Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-08
Address of h. j. Ormsbees Esq, ON
Memorial Day at Brandon.

Comrades and Fetb0lC Ctt1ze7lS 1T ls
fitting, indeed, that the services of this
day should transpire in the midst of these
marble monuments raised in memory of
the loved and cherished dead, by the low
ing and kindly hands of the living they
are fit reminders of our duty to our fallen
comrades, whose loss we this day COM
memorate, and whose sacrifice upon their
country's altar can be honored, cherished,
and remembered in no more appropriate
manner than by these beautiful horal Of
ferings of spring; and we not only thus
do honor to our fallen heroes, but we do
great honor to ourselves. This is no fes-
tai day-this ia no time for mirth-but
rather with bowed heads and chastened
hearts, should we seek communion with
our comrades in arms whose lives were
given up in that great struggle for ma
tienal life through which our country has
but Just passed, and through this com.
muuion dedicate anew ourselves to the
service of our common csuntry; and here
upon this sacred spot again determine to
ever keep fresh in our hearts and mem
ory the recollection that we have no high
er duty devolviug upon US, both as sol
diers and citizens, than to guard with
ton the memory of our dead, who died
that O nation might live, and their sur
vivors and those who should come after
them be permitted to enjoy the privileges
of nation uabroken, and government
founded on higher principles of liberty
and Justice than any other extant, as thai
has existed since the foundation of the
world. Comrades Do we, or are we II
the habit of fully realizing the extent o.
the obligations we are under to those
heroes who fell that we might be the re-
| cipients of so rich an inherltence Dt
we sufficiently keep in mind the fact ths
| but for the devotion, suffering and un
swerving patriotism of our citizen soldiery
and sailors during that terrible struggle
our country must have been divided int
antagonistic nationalities or sections, ant
when once divided, who can even conleo
ture the subdivisions that undoubtedl,
would have followed, instead of this beau
tiful structure of liberty and equality, ex
tending from ocean to ocean, and enfold
ing in it's kindly embrace, all our peopl
without regard to race or color, and secur
ing equal rights to all ? These question
apply as we'll to the living as to the dead
and though we are to-day engaged II
honoring ourselves, by Offering these fora
tributes to those who have passed away
I trust that these very acts may serve t.
keep alive in our hearts the great obligs
tions that we are all under to the soldier
and sailors who passed through the terri
BILE strife and were permitted to return t
their chosen avocations of peace, under
united and prosperous government whiol
their privations, sufferings and courag
have largely contributed towards re-estat
fishing on more honorable basis-pro
tected by more consistent and stable con
stitutional safeguards.
While we bestow these appropriat
emblems upon the graves Of those com
rades who lie buried here by the side c
kindred, where the loving hands of fathe
mother, ,,wife, brother, sister or friend ca
lovingly guard and care for their restin
places, let us not forget those who ar
scattered in unknown graves over the ia
extending South-these should ever b
remembered on this day of annual renew
al of devotion and patriotism. And
those here to-day who mourn the loss {
such an one, would say that the restin
J place of the most obscure ia not SO uncel
tain as to escape the watchful eye Of th
Great Commander of all. He will r,
: marshal them as well as those who Ii
here, when the last reveille shall be sour
ded, and they as we'll as these will hav
their reward at Hist hands for honorab
duty SO well performed, and sanctified b
yielding up their precious lives that the
: country might live-the nobler principle
of our government be perpetuated.
And well may we recount what tt
government has been doing in behalf an
> to the memory of these absent ones. FL
: the past six years her servants have bee
/ busy at their work, in gathering these +
mains and marking and protecting the
resting places, and in enrolling the
names upon the Nations Roll Of Homo
!Seventy-two great National Cemeteri