Memorial Day was started by former slaves on May 1, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp.  They dug up the bodies and worked for two weeks to give them a proper burial and gratitude for fighting for their freedom.  They then held a parade of 10,000 people led by 2,800 black children where they marched, sang and celebrated.