General John A. Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the Union veterans' organization, the Grand Army of the Republic, established a May 30th ceremony to honor "comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion."  General Logan's Order No. 11 states, in part:

"Let us, then, at the appointed time gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest of flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan."