Much of the Mountain South still observes Decoration Day, a tradition since soon after the Civil War; most believe the custom was emulated in the North and eventually became our national holiday, Memorial Day.

Most often held in the warmer months, from May to September, Decoration Day involves cleaning the cemetery and decorating the graves with flowers.   If the cemetery is connected to a church, there might be a religious service, and there is often dinner on the ground.

Graves of the dearly departed may of course be cleaned at any time of the year, and flower arrangements brought to honor and commemorate those passed on, but there was a special effort once per year.  The plot was cleared of grass that had encroached on the markers, and lichens were removed from headstones.  While the grownups worked, they’d keep an eye on the kids and make sure they didn’t get too raucous or disrespectfully trample across the graves as they played.

Many folks had gone to their flower gardens early that day to cut dahlias, gladioli, or other flowers to adorn the graves. Another decoration custom in the past was flowers made of tissue or crepe paper, but this is no longer seen. Most of the flowers taken for Decorations these days are silk arrangements purchased from the florist. Because wreaths of artificial flowers on the graves make it difficult for the lawnmower, most flowers are in “saddle” arrangements atop the headstones.

This photo from 1939 depicts Decoration Day at the Gouge Cemetery at Fork Mountain.  The unidentified child is next to the monument to William H. Gouge (1860-1938), son of Wiley and Millie Greene Gouge and husband to Louisa Emma Hughes (1865-1952).