Seattle's Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery will host their 88th Annual Memorial Day Commemorative Service on Monday. While Memorial Day didn't become a Federal holiday until the late 1960s it had been celebrated, traditionally on May 30th, since the end of the Civil War. It was originally called "Decoration Day". Over the years and wars that followed the holiday became more uniformly called by its present name. Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday in May in 1968 when Congress passed the "Uniform Monday Holiday Act". This act authorized that Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day and Memorial Day were to be observed on Mondays.
"The American Doughboy - Bringing Home Victory" is a sculpture by Alonzo Victor Lewis unveiled in 1932. It depicts a "returning from a victory mud-covered, with a grim smile on his face." Long-time Seattle residents may recall its original posting outside of the Civic Auditorium at Seattle Center. It was moved to the Veteran's Hall when the Civic Auditorium was converted to the Opera House for the 1962 World's Fair. In 1998 it was moved here to the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery.
In the background can be seen the markers of veterans that served trying to bring home victory for wars dating back to the Civil War.
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