Decoration Day (the predecessor of the modern "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day" id="mwqg" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Memorial Day">Memorial Day</a>") is observed in the United States for the first time after a proclamation by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Logan" id="mwqw" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="John A. Logan">John A. Logan</a>, head of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Army_of_the_Republic" id="mwrA" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Grand Army of the Republic">Grand Army of the Republic</a> (a veterans group).