Memorial Day honors all U.S. military personnel who died in service.
Originally called Decoration Day, it began in the late 1860s as people decorated Civil War soldiers’ graves with flowers. In 1868, General John A. Logan, head of a Union veterans’ group, designated May 30 for this purpose, chosen for its neutrality and blooming flowers. By the late 19th century, it was a widespread tradition. Post-World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American war dead. In 1971, Congress made it a national holiday.
This site was created to honor and memorialize the 116 Edison Tommies who died in service during World War 2. In 1946, the Edison Wizard yearbook dedicated 5 pages to feature 105 of the 116 heroes. On Memorial Day 1949, The Plaque, was dedicated and placed at the entrance to the auditorium where it has been located for the last 76 years.
Sadly, it does not appear that any official school recognition was afforded to the 7 Edison Heroes who died in service during the Korean War, or the 11 Edison Heroes who died in service during the Vietnam War.
On this Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, this site has been expanded to include these 18 heroes that Edison High School has mostly forgotten. Their names can be found here.
Look for pages dedicated to these men to appear on this site soon.
2025 is the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2, the 75th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, and the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. This Memorial Day, please honor and remember all the men and woman who died in service to the country.
Edison Heroes 