[Photograph 2012.201.OVZ001.2051]

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma City Times newspaper. Caption: "In Oklahoma City, one minute of prayerful silence at 1 a.m., broken by the sound of "Taps" will mark the observance of a national holiday, originally established before the end of the Civil War a century ago. The holiday started in the southern states as "Decoration Day" prior to the end of the war which seperated state from state and in some instances, brother from brother. Established originally as an observance to honor soldiers killed in the U.S. Civil War, it wasn't an official holiday for the nation until 1868. It was then Commander-in-chief John A. Logan of the grand Army of the Republic issued a general order designating May 30 "for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of thier country during the late rebellion........Oklahoma City American Legion Commander Tom McDonnell along with a group of buddies will place wreaths on the anchor and at the foot of the 45th National Guard Memorial in Civic Center on Memorial Day morning..........Post 170 will decorate Arlington, east of the city. Post 73 will take care of Sunnylane cemetery on 29th near Del City and several of the smaller posts will take care of smaller cemeteries.