Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-09
Grafton Delivered ut Middlebury,
Memorial Day, May 80. 1870.
BY COL. CHARLES H. JOYCE OF RUTLAND

Comrades Of tie Grand A79nY of Mt
Republic and Fell011 Citizens In obedi
ence to an order issued from headquarters
by your honored chief, Gen. John A
Logan, and by the unanimous voice of the
loyal people of these States, this day has
been set apart in the calendar to be de.
voted to the sad yet pleasing duty oil
strewing the graves of our fallen COM
rades with flowers honor to the brave
and gallant heart which conceived the
beautiful thought, and all honor to the
noble people who so universally and ten.
derby regard it.
The organization of the Grand Army
OF the Republic is still in its gristle, and
yet sufficient has been developed to show
the world that its objects and purposes
are humane and patriotic, and that in its
proper sphere of mercy and love, it is
entitled to the aid and sympathy of all
good citizens. In view then of the high
and exalted position you occupy, and
the frailties of human nature, it becomes
you, my comrades, to beware of the seduc-
tive influences of ambitious and designing
men, who will endeavor to divert your
patriotic institution from its true pur-
poses and convert it into political engine
for their own personal agrandizement.
extent, the objects and purposes of it's
founders, which is to provide and care
for your disabled comrades and the,
widows and orphans of those who have
gone they are your wards, and to you
they look, in their sorrow and distress. to
save them from the chilling frowns and
cold charities of the world. The soldiers
OF Vermont need no separate political or
ganization to secure their rights or protect
their influence; the people of our State
are willing and anxious to award to them
all the honors and emoluments which
they can in modesty and fairness ask or
expect, and it is only necessary for you to
prove in the future, as you have in the
past, that you are worthy of their gener-
Gus trust and confidence, to receive, as you
always have, the full and complete reward
for all the tolls and sufferings you so
braVely endured. Do this and your or
ganiZation shall live, peace and prosperity
will follow in your footsteps, the gratitude
of q generous people will reward you, the
smiles of heaven will rest upon you, and
the widows and orphans throughout this
broad land will rise up and call you bless
ed.
Again we meet in this temple of silen ce
and reconciliation, the holy city of the
dead once more we bring the fragrant
flowers of spring time to deck the tombs
of our, departed heroes; the day is sacred
and holy, and the memories of this hour
are tender and impressive, and while
standing beneath this genial sky, on this
solemn and consecratod day, overlooking
these broad and well cultivated fields,
dressed in the beautiful verdure of well
come spring, and now Feposiug in quiet
beauty around us; the lofty peaks of our
beloved Green Mountains towering up
like giants in the dim distance, and the
honored graves of our fallen comrades be-
meath our feet il is with fear and heslta-
4ion that ] raise my feeble voice to break
the eloquent silence of God and nature.
One wear ago these mounds, In which
our dead comrades sleep, were strewn
with flowers by pious hands, and watered
by tears from loving eyes. The flowers
Won then scattered are withered and gone ;
the spring that gave them birth has pS-'ed
~. summer and autumn and winter,
80 coma and gone. These sacred
,,,o,,r5s have each been wrapped III It's
nnIJ winding sheet of snow, and the
uortberp blasts have aung dirges over the
snot which the living bad but just de-
serted ,- 4.,.o
never forgets the dead but from TINS UNI Il, !,
Versal decay, brings forth the modest WHO q
flowers, and herself decks their hohoreo
urayes with freshness and beauty. now
,grandly and beautifully does the time ana
place beft the exercises OF this occasion
how appropriate that 1t should take place
in the early spring when nature Is OUT IN
all her leafv glory, and we are so tenderly
n a oil "A =
Seated in the majestic works and sublime
b"autieg of his visible creation the place
aIso Ia made forever sacred by the soldier 3
baIlowed dust, and the prayers and tears
Of those who survive them then
g Let us gather around and with beautiful rosaI'
with loyeliest lilies of varying hue, nj.
sprea6 them over each mound where soldier
our tspps Ealing on them like heavens sweet
And as you 20 forth to scatter your
yotive offerings upon the graves of those
vvho fell in the deadly breach and bloody
charge. forget not yonder honored mound;
the noble form which now lies moulderlng
beneath that sod, was not soldier, but
he was "the MODEST work of God" an
honest man, while every hour of his life,
and every prllsation of his heart, We're de-
voted to the service Of his country few
short weeks ago he was with you and OF
you. the honorable, upwright, trusted citi-
zen, the kind neighbor, the faithful friend,
the affectionate brother, and the Toying
husband and father but death who
.Ioyes a shining mark signal blow
A blow, which, while it executes alarms;
And startlss thousands with single fall"
hos laid him in the dust he has gone, but
l. tyat n
[nss example he has left behind him: Let
us then cherish bis memory and follow IN
his footsteps, for long years VIII pass t~ay
before you will look upon the hRe OF the
noble Stewart again
Iu the presence of this audience, sur
rounded by all these Influences, and AMI
mated by the thoughts and emotions which
crowd NV mind and plead for utterance
how weak and empty is all human speech
or attempts atseloquence.
To day nation boys in sorrow and
reverence at the tombs OF its patriot dead
&c this hour great and mighty people
are gathered together to strew flowers over
the ashes of its buried defenders, in token
of their sacrifices, and in honor of thei,
victories
How beautiful the thought, that upon
each returning spring, the silent mansions
af our loved comrades, shall be adorned
with the richest and sweetest flowers from
natures vast conservatory, and thei
memories be cherished by generations ye
unborn; and now grandly sublime be
comes the thought, when we rememoe
that throughout the length and breadth
this broad land, the people have set apar
this day to bring their floral tributes o
love and affection to the shrine of the hol,
dead. and that at this moment, upon ever.
field where freedoms sons lie buried, Low
inc fingers are strewing, upon the grave
Of the hero and patriot, the choicest AM
richest offerings Of the early spring
while from ten Thousand affairs, and from
ten thourand times tn thousand heart
are offered Ep to the throne of Jehovah
praise and thanksgiving for our grea
deliverance and earnest supplscstions to
our future peace and prosperity.