Confederate Heroes Day in Texas

January 19

Confederate Heroes Day – A Tribute to the Unsung Heroes of War

Confederate Memorial commemorates the soldiers of the Civil War in the United States. In Tennessee, the day is called Confederate Decoration Day while in Texas, on Jan. 19th is called Confederate Heroes Day. May 5, 1968 was the day it was established by the head of Grand Army Republic (GAR).

The First Time
In its first large observance, ceremonies were held at the veranda of the Arlington Mansion, which was the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Gen. Lee was raised in Virginia. His father was bankrupt and his mother was disabled. He graduated with honors from West Point. He fought wars in Mexico, fought the Indians, and was second in command with the Texas troops. Many may find it hard to believe his feat. He abhorred slavery and made it a point to let others know of his beliefs.

Gen. and Mrs Ulysses Grant, along with Washington officials, led the ceremonies of Memorial Day. The children from Soldiers and Sailor’s Orphan Home and the members of GAR offered flowers and prayers both to the Union and Confederate soldiers’ graves.

Dispute of Origins
Various cities from the North and the South claim the honor of celebrating Memorial Day in 1866. Macon and Columbus GA., Richmond, Boalsburg, PA., all claimed to be the starting point of commemorating Memorial Day. There were about 25 places named in relation to the origin of Memorial Day and majority was in the South where most of the war soldier lay.

Grave Decoration
Decorating the graves of the Confederate and Union Soldiers started with Mrs. Chas J Williams of Columbus GA., and this became a custom practiced throughout the country. Mrs. William was the wife of Maj. C.J. Williams who returned home from the Mexican War ill from a disease he got in the field; he died in 1862. He was a Colonel of the First Regulars in Virginia.

His wife and daughter visited his grave everyday and brought flowers decorating his grave. While his wife would mourn for Maj. Williams, his daughter would pick up the weeds around the graveyard and cover the various soldiers’ graves with its flowers.

However, Maj. Williams’ daughter died. The grieving wife and mother continued what her daughter was doing to the unknown graves in memory of her daughter. She thought of the people who once fought the war but are now dead and buried unsung heroes. She thought of paying tribute to the valor of these men from all throughout the Southern States. She asked the Columbus Times to publish an article asking for assistance. In her request, she asked for a day of observing the heroic acts of the soldiers from Potomac to Rio Grande. She requested that the day be the 26th of April.

She also solicited the help of Soldier’s Aid Societies in all the southern states. Fortunately, they responded positively and reorganized and called themselves Memorial Association. She saw in her lifetime the fruits of all her efforts. She died on April 15, 1874 with full military honors. Every Memorial Day, the military visits her grave and decorates her grave with flowers.

In 1874, the legislature of Georgia approved her request to set April 26th as a legal holiday in commemoration of the Memorial Day.