Memorial Day isn’t just about hot dogs, baseball, and apple pie – and a three-day weekend. Memorial Day began to honor the Civil War dead. You can read more about the origins of this holiday – and in particular, the African American origins of the holiday, in this recent article from the Washington Post. Another interesting resource from the Center for Civil War Research also provides a good overview of various claims for the origins of Memorial Day.

All together, a total of 163 men died at Milliken’s Bend (119 Union, 44 Confederate). This is miniscule, of course, compared to the routinely enormous losses at many of the larger Civil War battles. The wounded at Milliken’s Bend totaled 371 (241 Union, 130 Confederate), and many of these would soon die of their wounds or disease.

It’s easy to cover up the pain of Memorial Day with a bright red, white, and blue banner, and wave the flag with pride. Maybe throw in a solemn ceremony or a rousing but honorable patriotic speech. But Memorial Day is really about Remembering the Carnage and the Cost.

It is about this:

But it is also about this:
Remember and honor those who paid the price.