On this day in history, May 30, 1868, the first Decoration Day —
a precursor to Memorial Day — was celebrated.

Originally known as Decoration Day, from early traditions of
decorating graves with flags, flowers and wreaths, Memorial
Day is a day for remembrance to honor those who have died
in service to our country.

According to PBS,"This was first widely observed on May 30,
1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the
Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers," according to PBS.

Manhattan DA says ‘I did my job’ after Trump found guilty
of all charges at historic trial.

Former President William Howard Taft (above) dedicated the
Lincoln Memorial on the Washington Mall on May 30, 1922.

At the time, Taft was serving as chief justice of the U.S.
Supreme Court. A crowd gathered on the Mall to witness
the ceremony.

The neoclassical monument honors 16th U.S. president 
Abraham Lincoln. Congress authorized construction of
a monument to Lincoln on the Capitol grounds in 1867
(two years after his assassination), but it took until 1911
for funding to be approved; construction was then
slowed due to World War I.

     
       
        
        
        
        
        
       
William Howard Taft (left) President Warren G. Harding (center) and Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of Abraham Lincoln.