In 1905, the legislature of Michigan enacted the following:

Mich. Comp. Laws Section 128.121

Memory Days; Purpose -

That the twenty-fifth day of May and the thirtieth day of September in each year be and hereby are set apart and designated as “Memory Days”; said days to be used for the purpose of improving and beautifying the various cemeteries throughout the state and of the graves therein; that all may thus show forth on these days by these appropriate acts a loving and tender remembrance for the dead: Provided, however, That if either of the days herein designated shall fall on Sunday, the next Monday following shall be deemed “Memory Day” for all or any of the purposes of this act.

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A decade later, in 1915, Governor Ferris commented:

Once upon a time a Michigan school teacher traveled two-hundred forty-seven miles for the sole purpose of hearing Adelina Patti sing “Home Sweet Home.” This dear old song brought to the consciousness of four or five thousand listeners the precious memories of childhood days. In large measure human personality is the aggregate of one’s memory. At the grave of father, mother, wife, husband, son, daughter, baby, neighbor, friend, the joys and sorrows of the past, through memory are revived and retouched with the benediction of love. Our cemeteries are cities of the dead, made beautiful through the magic touch of loving hands. It is hoped that on “Memory Day” every cemetery in Michigan will command the special attention of our citizens. If, by chance, a neglected grave is found, put it in order and place upon it a handful of flowers. If there is a corner called the potter’s field, clear away the weeds and rubbish. Here strew and plant flowers. The condition of this particular spot is the real test of community love and loyalty. In remembering the dead, we serve the living.

I, Woodbridge N. Ferris, governor of Michigan, invite her people to convene in the cemeteries at 2:00 o’clock, p.m. on September 30, designated by the Legislature as “Memory Day” and there scatter flowers and hold appropriate exercises in memory of the dead.

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Subsequently, at some point between then and now, the tradition was stopped, and Memory Day forgotten.

I first encountered a reference to the holiday earlier this year, due to the fact that I was researching Michigan cemetery law, specifically as it applied to the perpetual care of graves, in conjunction with some local projects. Since that time, the law has occupied much of my thought, both in terms of what it tells us about the long-dead people who enacted it, and more importantly, what it suggests regarding the people of today who don’t even know it exists.

As is generally the case with matters regarding death, even the briefest contemplation of the infinite will tend to bring about a feeling of introspective self-judgement, whether or not you apply that judgement towards your behavior on this world, in this life, or –if your cosmology permits– even a contemplation of how your acts will affect the future welfare of your eternal soul.

I mention this somewhat emotional aspect of “Memory Day” specifically because this year, it happens to also coincide with Rosh Hashana, or Jewish New Year, the day when God is supposed to pass judgement on every living person, and depending upon your worth, you will either be found among the Chosen, the Damned, or a middle group who- starting now- have exactly ten days to atone for their sins, and improve themselves, or else be “blotted out of the book of the living.”

p.s.: In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention here that I haven’t technically just been ‘thinking’ about it, but rather actively planning on observing Memory Day in a more official manner, by holding a public talk/walk in which I’d hoped to specifically share some of my past year’s research related to Highland Cemetery of Ypsilanti, for the purpose of trying to promote its conservation and stewardship.

Unfortunately, personal matters have recently arisen which make such an event impossible.