Final answer:
Waterloo, N.Y. was declared the birthplace of Memorial Day due to its historical significance and the community's observance of the first Memorial Day after the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The birthplace of Memorial Day, Waterloo, N.Y., was declared as such due to its historical significance and commemoration of fallen soldiers. After the American Civil War, the town of Waterloo held the first formal, community-wide observance of Memorial Day on May 5, 1866. The local community, led by General John Murray, organized a memorial service and decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. This tradition spread to other towns and eventually became a national holiday to honor and remember those who sacrificed their lives in military service.