White banner with a pale blue horizontal line across the center.

Celebrating Memorial Day

Cremation Center of Southern Utah • May 26, 2023

Memorial Day has long been touted as the first official holiday of the summer. Many Americans choose to celebrate in part by visiting the graves of their loved ones. Personally, I always think of our veterans and the sacrifices made for our great country. But did you know that Memorial Day is rich with historical significance? Barbara Maranzani wrote a very interesting article published on history.com entitled, “8 Things You May Not Know About Memorial Day.” Here are a few highlights.

The practice of honoring those who have fallen in battle dates back thousands of years, credited to the ancient Greeks and Romans who held annual days of remembrance for their loved ones.

One of the earliest observances in America was organized on May 1, 1865. Recently freed slaves, regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops, and a few white Charlestonians gathered to “consecrate a new, proper burial site for the Union dead.”

General John A. Logan is considered by some historians to be the “founder” of Memorial Day. General Logan was the commander-in-chief of the Union veterans’ group known as the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1868, he issued a decree that May 30 should be known as a nationwide day of commemoration for soldiers killed in the Civil War. Logan announced that “Decoration Day” would be a day for Americans to lay flowers and decorate the graves of fallen soldiers “whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

Memorial Day was originally used to commemorate those killed in the Civil War. Later, the tradition was expanded to include those killed in all wars, and Memorial Day was officially recognized nationwide in 1971, “with America deeply embroiled in the Vietnam War.”

Happy Memorial Day from all of us at The Cremation Center of Southern Utah. We’re the cremation experts. Please contact us with your cremation questions at (435) 986-9100. We are located just off Riverside Dr. at 1316 S. 400 E., Ste. A5, St. George, UT. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @CremationCenterSU.

Submitted by Larry L. Hansen, Owner/Funeral Director

By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • July 21, 2026
Who has the legal right to authorize your cremation? Utah State Code sets a specific order of succession — and pre-planning removes the guesswork.
By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • July 7, 2026
Top tips for traveling with cremated remains via commercial airline — non-metallic urn, carry-on placement, and the cremation permit you’ll need for TSA.
By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • January 9, 2026
Robert W. Service’s poem “The Cremation of Sam McGee” tells of one man’s last request — and a lesson about making sure your own final wishes are honored.
By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • November 19, 2025
Thanksgiving can be tremendously difficult for those mourning a loved one. Four tips to support your emotional well-being through the holiday.
By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • November 5, 2025
Veterans who choose cremation are entitled to burial benefits for cremated remains — including a gravesite or niche space, grave marker, and honor guard.
By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • April 23, 2025
Our Tree of Life program plants a tree in honor of the deceased in Southern Utah’s Dixie National Forest — over 4,100 trees planted since its inception.
By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • March 19, 2025
From the early Stone Age to the first North American crematory in 1876 — points of interest on the long history of cremation.
By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • January 28, 2025
Palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware identified the top five regrets voiced by the dying. A reminder to live life to the fullest and regret free.
By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • October 29, 2024
Top safety tips for drivers and for parents with little witches and warlocks haunting the streets this Halloween.
By Cremation Center of Southern Utah • July 10, 2024
If you wish to be cremated, renting a casket allows a viewing or funeral service beforehand at significant savings. How a rental casket works.
Show More