Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-30
. oRCEST ER
THURSDAY. MAY SO. 1879.
Memorial Day.

When a few wears ago il was first proposed TO
consecrate one day yearly to the memory of
those who gave their lives to preserve the life of
their country, though all agreed that this an
nual recognition of their heroic service would
be highly desirable, yet many doubted whether
--Yr-wonld grow into national custom, because
the meihod proposed, however graceful and fit
ting in itself, seemed hardly in harmony with
our ways; IT was thought that the ceremony of
strewing flowers upon the graves of the honored
dead had at least slight flavor of theatrical
sentmentality, which would not long be in favor
with people so practical and earnest as ours.
But whatever distrust may have been felt as to
the adaptation of these ceremonies TO our ma
tiona habits of thought and action, has long
since disappeared; each anniversary has been
celebrated more generally than the former and
with increased enthusiasm, until now there is
hardly room for doubt that memorial day will
remain permanently among our national holt
days, and will be not inferior to any of them in
its power to awaken patriotic memories, TO
quicken our love of country and keep alive that
spirit of self-devotion which is the basis Of all
heroic virtues and the true source of strength in
national exigencies.
When this day was first celebrated the war was
hardly at an end, its passions and enmities had
not had time to subside, and the states whose
inhabitants raised their parricidal hands against
their country had not been restored to their
normal relations to the government. Then to
all who took part as actors or spectators in the
memorial services, the memories of the war,
with its heroism, its triumphs, its sacrifices
were fresh and clear; none were too young to
remember those days of excitement and anxiety,
and the impression had not been effaced or OBJ
scured by time. But among those who to-day
viii gather about the graves of the patriot dead
aud join in the tribute of gratitude and honor
we pay to their memory, there are many TO
whom those four years of war are only
a confused recollection of military dis
plays, of times of excitement or de-
preston, of sudden bereavements, of
great Outburst of triumphant exultation
followed almost Immediately by general MOURN
Ing, where our loved and honored president be-
came the GROWING sacrifice to the spirit Of trea-
son. With each succeeding year the number of
those who themselves fought and suffered, and
of those who watched and wept and prayed at
home will diminish, and in their stead will
come TO attest the country's gratitude to its de-
teuders, those TO whom the desperate struggle
for national integrity will be known only by
tradition. But as we have kept green the mem
DRY of our ancestors who founded this nation
and yearly commemorate their patriotism and
yalor On our national birthday so those who
come after us for many generations will cherish
with pridn and affection tho ms nj wi,
in struggle equally momentous cheerfully laid
down their lives for their country.
To testify our gratitude to those patriots who
defended the national life at the cost of their
own, would seem TO be especially the duty and
privilege of those who did not themselves draw
the sword or shoulder the musket; but there
are reasons, and good ones, why the Grand
Army the Republic should take the lead in
this memorial service. They have an organiza-
ton which is adapted to making the necessary
arrangements so that all may be done in be-
coming manner; from intimate association with
their fallen comrades, they know how worthy
they were of affectionate remembrance, and
through sharing their hardships and perils,
they are well aware of how true and high tenn
per was that courage which endured without
quailing, wounds, starvation, exposure and
death In hcnoring the memory of those who
fell, let US not forget those who with equal
patriotism and self devotion encountered the
same dangers, performed the same labors,
made the same sacrifices of pleasure and ease,
and if the fortune Of war had so decided, or, to
speak more reyerently, if God had so wiIled,
would have laid down their lives with the same
readiness. To watch over their welfare, and es-
pecially TO preserve from want the widows and
orphans of their fallen comrades, is a sacred
duty, which is not wholly discharged by the be-
stowal OF the meager pensions which our laws
provide. In this respect the Grand Army does
a most bene6cent work. and should be sustained
and assisted in it so far as practicable by all
who profess to be grateful for the heroic exam
pie of our soldiers and the substantial benefits
they have secured for us and our posterity.