Remember When: The 1st Memorial Day after World War II was truly special in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Memorial Day is always special. But that was truly the case May 30, 1946.

It was the first Memorial Day following the end of World War II, and Alle-Kiski Valley towns rolled out the red carpet for troops returning home.

Like now, that Memorial Day was a Monday, but the recognition and appreciation lasted the entire weekend.

Harrison Township, in fact, had two services. The first, sponsored by VFW Post 894, was held Saturday morning at the Natrona public square at the corner of Pond and Philadelphia streets.

The other service was Sunday in Natrona Heights as participants marched to Mount Airy Cemetery.

In Leechburg, 58 Gold Stars represented the number of community servicemen killed during the war. One of the Gold Stars belonged to Louis Danner, who died of malnutrition in a German prison camp.

Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum honored its four parishioners who died in wartime and the names of the 165 church members who served during the war were read aloud during Sunday worship. As the names were read, family members planted blue flowers on the church’s Living Service Flag.

Tarentum, Brackenridge, Harrison, East Deer and Frazer had 152 residents die during wartime service.

Springdale had suspended Memorial Day ceremonies for four years during the war.

But the town made up for lost time, starting the day with a special Navy service at the ferry landing at the foot of Colfax Street at 8:30 a.m.

Then a parade took place from the war memorial in Cheswick to the Springdale honor rolls. Later, a solemn service was held at both Henderson and Deer Creek cemeteries.

Springdale, Cheswick and Harmar had a combined 45 service members lose their lives.

Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp. took out a full-page ad in the May 28, 1946 edition of the Valley Daily News commemorating the 135 employees who died in the war.

Prior to 1971, Memorial Day was held May 30, no matter what day of the week it fell on. That was also the year Congress made Memorial Day a federal holiday.

For many years, it was known as Decoration Day because people began decorating graves of Civil War veterans shortly after that war.

According to research published in 2016 by American History Magazine, both Northerners and Southerners were looking for a way to mourn the 618,252 fallen heroes.

More than 25 cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial/Decoration Day, including Boalsburg, near State College.

Boalsburg folks claim their observance began in 1864. Macon, Ga., claims it began there in 1866.

On May 5, 1868, a group of Union veterans known as the Grand Army of the Republic declared May 30 to be Decoration Day. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan gave the orders for his men to decorate graves “with the choicest flowers of springtime.”

In 1971, the federal government officially recognized Waterloo, N.Y., as the birthplace of Memorial Day.