DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – In 1866, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was founded in Decatur. The fraternal organization was made up of Civil War veterans.
Two years later, GAR Commander John Logan issued General Order No. 11, which declared Memorial Day on May 30. The day was also called Decoration Day.
At its peak, the GAR had 90,000 members in 1890.
The group helped elect five of its members as President of the United States. It also worked to give Black people the right to vote.
The GAR was dissolved in August 1956 after its last member died.
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