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Initially held as a remembrance for fallen Union soldiers, Memorial Day has since been embraced by a nation to honor all Americans making the ultimate sacrifice.

In Waterloo, N.Y., a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff.

Due to bad feelings leftover from the Civil War, many Southern states initially refused to observe the day, which was first known as Decoration Day.

The crowd attending the first Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in 1866 was approximately 5,000 people. Then, as now, small American flags were placed on each grave — a tradition kept at many national cemeteries.

Columbus, Miss., held its own observance in 1866. Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves of Union soldiers, women who came to honor Confederate dead placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well.

The holiday was first referred to as Memorial Day in 1882 but became more common until after World War II. The United States government named it Memorial Day in 1967 and made it a federal holiday in 1971.

Families and friends of fallen service members take part in a remembrance scheduled for 3 p.m. locally. The American flag usually flies at half-staff from dawn until noon.

Due to John McCrae’s immortal poem, Flanders Fields, the poppy endures as a tribute to those who have given their lives for freedom. The custom has grown in many families to decorate the graves of all departed loved ones.

This Memorial Day, honor the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country with flowers of gratitude. You can show your appreciation with patriotic bouquets of red, white and blue flowers.

Call Embark Floral to send flowers anywhere through Teleflora at 713-468-2440 or at www.embarkfloral.com.