Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-02
ourraIIen Heroes.
THE OBSERVANCE OF DECORATION DAY

- :, the United States, our eltizshs
;aired with the Grand Army OF the he
public, on Monday, in the memorial SER
yicas in honor of the men who lost their
lives in the defence of the nations life. 1t
was the most imposing procession and
ceremony ever Witnessed in Vermont.
The day opened auspiciously, indicating
that the arranged programme could be
fully carried out. In response to the re-
quest of Post Roberts, liberal contribu.
tons were deposited at the parlors of the
Central House at a seasonable hour, there
to be arranged into boquets, wreaths,
crowns and crosses, ETC., by the tastefui
skill of the ladies of our town. Some OF
the flowers were contributed by the ladies
of Poultney and other towns arriving on
the early trains. A large number of flor
al ornaments of an elaborate character
were contributed as special gifts, to be
placed on particular graves, but the great
mass of flowers were without designation,
that they were for graves of dead soldiers
being considered by the donors sufficient
requisition upon their liberality. There
had been fear that there might be u
scarcity of flowers, but the contributions
were abundant and fully adequate to the
needs of the occasion, and great credit is
due to the ladies who with such rare
taste wrought them into their various
forms, and all honor to the few who re-
sponded TO the invitation to assist, the
more the honor, while majority of the
ladies were detained either from incli.
nation or pressing duties at home.
The places of business was generally
closed, and flags were displayed. The
dry goods store of Messrs. Cross & Co. on
Merchants Row, was deliberately decorat
ed with festoons of the national colors
and presented an attractive appearance
which invocated taste and gave very
pleasing effect to the whole scene
At two o'clock the various organizations
began to assemble at their various places
of meeting and the streets were lined
with spectators, to witness the forming
Of the procession. AT quarter to three
o'clock Gen. Edward II. Ripley, Officer
OF the Day, appeared accompanied by
Major John A. Salisbury as Assistant, ant
proceeded without delay to the formation
of the Procession, in the following order
Band
Clergymen, in carriages
Rev. j.. G.. johnson, Rev. L. w. Brigham
Orator and Committee, in carriages
Capt. W. C. Dunton, Gen. W. Y. w. Ripley
Col. l.. q. Kingsley, Major John Il. Hazelton
Capt John II. Sheldonl
Rutland Choral Society, in a carriage,
Floral offerings in a carriage,
Post Roberts, No. u.
Masonic Societies.
Odd Fellows.
Good Templars.
Rutland Fire Department
under direction of Chief Engineer Joseph NJ
Davis, Hook and Ladder Killington Steamer
Nickwackett, and Washington Engine Compau
les
Citizens, on foot.
Citizens, in carriages.
The procession then moved down, Eve
lyn and West street, to Evergreen Gene
terry at Center Rutland. The procession
reached nearly three fourths of mile il
length. A large number of citizens Join
ed the procession and many others foun,
their way to the Cemetery and awaiCet
its arrival
The carriage containing the floral &, cor
ations presented magnificent display
literally covered as it was with floral tri
butes gracefully arranged, in the mids
of which towering above all was an ele
giant cross and crewn. This feature o
the procession attracted wide attention
On reaching the cemetery, shaded pla
Of ground at the northern extremity ha'
been selected for the literary exercises O
the day. After the people had been prop
erly arranged and comfortably located
Gen. Ripley, the officer Of the day, Gale
the multitude to order, after which tn
Jericho Band played, and the Hymn {
Peace was sung by the Rutland Choir
Society. A prayer was then offered b
Rev. James Gibson Johnson, pastor Of til
Congreg ational church, in which the bene
diction of Heaven was invoked upon th
services of the day, and that the peopl
might be endowed with the power, actin
in peace their part with usefulness, an
be thankful that the emblems of peac
and Joy were surrounding us, and tina
God would be generous to US as a country
That in the midst of the memories @
those who had given their lives, that. w
might be imbued with grateful spiri
and thanks to God for the final conques
of peace. AS we remember how thes
heroes would never yield to the enemy
80 may we never yield to the enemies g
our souls, and resolve to serve God an
rejoice in all that He has done for III
The prayer was touching and appropriat
IN ALI its utteranoes.
Gen. Ripley then introduced Cap
Walter @. Dunton, who proceeded to d.
liver the following
GRAFTON.
Citizens and Comrades 1t was tn
custom of the Athenians to gather K
gether the bones of those aho had falle
in war and bury them, at the public ez
pense, in the fairest suburb of their beat
tiful city and, after they had laid ther
in the ground, man chosen by the Stat
from among her most eloquent orator
delivered an appropriate eulogy over the
sepulcher. Thus Athens, in the days
her prosperity, distinguished for orator,
poetry, philosophy, and the learning
culture and patriotism of her inhabitant
honored her heroic dead. Resemblin
the Athenians in the freedom of on
institutions and the liberty of our peopl
and actuated by the same feelings, W
have assembled to-day for similar pul
pose to honor those who fell in war, bu
uniiAe them you have selected no eli
quent orator to eulogize the dead, bu
have detailed one of your number to pei
form this service, who, although in OBJ,
dience to orders, reluctantly consented I