Thanks For The Day Off, General Logan

You all know John A. Logan, right? He's that guy on that horse to the right there. Now, maybe you're not familiar with his entire CV, but the man from the Land of Lincoln is pretty much an American legend. How do we know? Well, having your signature prominently displayed on your Wikipedia page confers immediate bigshot status. (You know, as if a humongous statue erected in your honor in the middle of the nation's capital wasn't enough of an status indicator.) Logan is one of the more accomplished individuals in the country's history -- not many other folks can claim to have been a General, a Representative, a Senator, and have a county in Kansas named after them.

So anyway, it's a little known fact, but Gen. Logan is who you have to thank for your federal holiday today. In 1868, Logan proclaimed that May 30 of that year was to be known as Decoration Day, a day for "the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country." Obviously, the holiday has been through many permutations since, but one man -- whose graven image you've walked past countless times -- created it.

History: nothing like it, eh? For those interested in celebrating Memorial Day next to the statue of the guy who created it, the Logan Circle Community Association is holding a commemoration this afternoon at 12:30 p.m. in Logan Circle Park. The ceremony will include music, speeches, and a wreath-laying -- a low-key alternative if you don't feel like dealing with the crowds at Arlington National Cemetery.