The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-06-04
DnooRAT1oN DAY.


Owing 10 the fact that there was cifcus
and show in town, on Saturday, the process
sion, which formed at o'clock P. NJ to
proceed 60 the cemeteries, was not as large
as would have been, yet was of considerable
length, and was joined by quite number
Of buggiss, carriages and wagons, filed with
people, after leaving the streets Of the city.
arrived at Oskwood Cemetery the people
gathered around platform prepared fer the
occasion, on which were arranged baskets
of flowers, in profusiOn. Near the center of
the spot chosen, stood beautiful and touch
ing re membrane Of those who lay buried in
unknown graves. 1t was an obloDg, nearly
resembling a grave, the sides and ends of
which were woven with wire, and trimmed
with evergreen. The interior was covered
with moss, ard strewn with flowers, while
| at each end stood an urn filled with flowers,
and in the center, planted apparently in
little mound, stood cross, trimmed with
evergreeDs, and surmounted with the mot
tos:@ "Iu Honor of the Unknown Graves
1--WE will strew flowers and shed tears for
those who perished in want and in prison."
The ladies' of the committee exerted them
selves 70 have this a special feature, and it
was.
After music by the Band, Hon. R. P.
Buckland, President of the day, delivered
the following address:
FRIENDs:-We are assembled here, in this
sacred resting place of the dead, to honor
those who sleep in these graves in cOnse-
quence of their self-sacrifcjDg patriotism.
| We are now enjoying the sweets Of pesce, at
/ the expense of the lives Of these brave men.
/ God, only, can adequately reward them, but
4 we owe It 10 them, we owe it 10 their widows
/ aud children and friends; We owe it to pos
terity, 70 honor them upon all suitable oc-
casions, and to cherish and keep alive that
noble patriotism, which impelledf these citi-
Eens TO leave their homes and loved ones,
/ aud offer up their lives that the nation might
live If the time shall ever come, (which
may God forbid when the people shall fail
1 10 honor and cherish the memory of their
heroic defenders, then the Republic will
perish. Those who have been soldiers, can
best appreciate tbe value Of The ceremonies
which we propose, TO day, over the graves Of
their departed companions. The citizen SOL
dier is nerved 10 endure great heardships,
sickness aud death, from high sense cf
duty, and his faith that he Will receive the
gratitude of his countrymen. On the bat
ilefeld, amid Che thunders Of artillery, and
The roaring musketry; in the midst of earn
age and death, with scarcely hope Of es
cane. he thinks of friends at home. 1t seems
TO him as if their spirits were lowering about
him watching his every act. He says to
himself IF fslisr they will call me cow
ard. Never, L will die with my face to the
epemy;" and when the fatal charge i5 sound
ed, inspired by these thoughts, he rushes on
the foe and meets heroic deaths 1t may be
that the spirits of these heroes at this very
moment are looking down upon US, to note
with how much of love and of gratitude
we remember their heroic saeTibces for US,
Will they not rejoice 70 see this multitude
of people assembled on this occasion to do
them honor; to see here so many of their
i companions, who suffered with them on
many q weary march who fought by their
sides at Shiloh, or Vicksburg, or on some
other bloody field?- Will they not rejoice TO
behold this profusioD Of beautiful howers,
smblems of purity and loye-sweetest flowers
Of May, gathered from gardens, lawns and
natures forests, by the fair hands Of their
mothers, thcir wives, Clfeir daughters, their
sisters, and sweethearts, and brought here
20 sdoIn and beautify The soldiers grave.
Can anything better illustrate how SINCERE,
how ardent, how deep is the love of woman
for the brave soldier? 1t is nc. IDLE cere-
Inony. No act WHICH serves 10 keep fresh in
our mind The good and patriotic deeds Of the
of the dead is idle. Every man aud Woman
here to-day, will leave these bonored gtayes
with better hearts and a purer patriotism,
and the future soldiers of the Republic will
be inspired by such scenes, 70 simulate the
beroism and patriotic devotiou oftbe soldiers
we are here 10 honor, and viii strive to de-
serve like honor. Is -
Eellow-citizens, soldiers, comrades, let ul
here promise each other, that as time rolls
Oh, esch year, 10 the month Of May, when
all nature is dressed in its most beautiful
garb aud perfumed with its sweetest flowers
We will join hearts and hands in renlen
brsBae Of the soldiers who sleep in these
graves; Of the soldiers Who sleep faF away
from home and friends, who died in prisons
and on the battlefelds, and in gratitude tC
Almighty God for permitting US to enjoy the
peace which our fallen brothers died TO Sc
cure to their county Fl -
The address was fO]iOged bV d touching
prayer by Rev.E. Bushnell. p. tG
The following letter from Rev. s. Bower
was then read: 81
FREMoSr, Ohio, May % 1859.
10 the Committee on Recoratiah of Soldiers
GrGUes.
thank you most cordially for the bOnOl
of my appointment. as Que of the speakers OF
the occasion Of the Decoration: l must
however, decline being present. am unde
treatment of DR.. Weber, of Cleveland, who's
direction is, that | must avoid all manner o
work, eKertion or excitement, so that l car
barely perform the routine duties of my
congregation.
Our graveyard, also, is so new, and the
rodss are in such bad condition ss yet, tina
] deem it better to omit, for this year; th,
Decoration of the grave of Ii. Emil Ram
pauo; who died at Fort Monroe. r.
Please 10 accept NY assurance ofmy mos
, heartfelt sympathy in the highly patriot,
sentiment, which hOnors 50 worthily GU
noble defenders Il the soldiers-and also 0
my prayer, that nations gratitude, so vel
; earned, may never fade or die, but rattle
increase from year to year in new intensity
and fresh inventions Of love.
Most respectfully, ;
!