The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-31
DECORATION DAY.
Its Observance EIsewhere-A NatI0n,a
Tribute TO Its Fallen Braves.
VIRGINIA.

Tribute TO Its Fallen Braves.
VIRGINIA.
| A special to the Washington Chronicle
says the exercises were conducted under
the auspices of Phil kearney Post number
IL G.. A. R., department of Virginia.
At twelve o'clock IN. the audience was
called to order by Comrade j. Oyerton
Hawley, who acted as post commander, in
the absence of Comradc w. A. MacNulty,
who was prevented by sickness from being
present.
In few appropriate remarks Comrade
Hawley stated the object of the exercises,
their meaning, &C., after which the hymn,
Before Jehovah's Awful Throne,u (mu-
sic, PleyePs hymn was sung by a choir
of volunteer voices of ladies and gentle
men.
A prayer was then offered by the Rev.
Mr.. Blair, after which America was
sung by the choir and joined in by the
audience and large chorus of little chill
dren.
An Grafton was then delivered by the
Rev. MIR. Blair, after which the ceremony
OF decorating the graves with flowers was
performed by all present.
The Doxology was then sung by the
|
by Mr.. Blair.
rated with Union flags, beautiful festoons
of ever-er, ems, and notices of various de-
criptions, and the grand old flag that
floats in the breezes from day to day low
cred to half-mast and draped in mourning.
AT Danyille, part of the Grand
Army of the Republic conducted the GER
emonies Of decorating the graves of about
] 300 Union soldiers. Between three and
| four hundred children also participated.
| In Portsmouth, decoration day was gen.
orally observed, the navy-yard and govern.
ment offices were closed, and hundreds of
white and colored citizens visited the ma
tional cemeteries at Hampton and York
town for the purpose of honoring the loyal
dead. r. G. Greene, of Petersburg, deliv-
cred an Grafton. Colonel James ii. Platt,
Dr., member of Congress, and j. w.
Langston, of Washington, also addressed
the assembly.
| NEW YORK.
In New York the stores were generally
closed. The procession Of the Grand Ar
my of the Republic, comprising the vari-
| Gus posts of the city, marched down
Broadway. Thelbattalion of soldiers or
phan boys, in gray uniform, accompanied
I by their own band, together with the or
phan girls from the Union Home, dressed in
white, were objects of marked sympathy.
A halt was made at Trinity church-yard,
where the grave of General Kearney and
other graves were decorated, and dirgo
| played.
| Dispatches from all the cities and towns
of this state give accounts of the decora-
ton of the soldiers graves. with appropri-
ate ceremonies, all business being general
ly suspended.
PENNSYLVANIA,
| In Philadelphia the various posts of the
| Grand Army proceeded to the different
cemeteries with bands Of music and the
graves were decorated, orations being de-
livered at prominent points.
Decoration day was generally observed
at Scranton, Pttson, Easton, Wilksbarre,
Columbia, Bethlehem, Allentown, Harris
burg, Lancaster, Bristol, aud other places
in this state, business being suspended at
noon, and civic societies, Grand Army of
the Republic, military, firemen, school
children, and citizens generally joining in
profusely strewing flowers on the soldiers
graves In the various cemeteries.
MASSACHUSETTS.
The excitement attending the fire some.
what interfered with the decoration cere-
monies in Boston, but the duty of the day
-strewing floral offerings upon the graves
of the soldiers and sailors-was fully car
ried out. Various posts of the Grand
Army of the Republic turned out with full
ranks and music, and, in many instances,
military escort. Among those who made
addIesses were William Ralph Emerson at
Mount Auburn, ex-Mayor CASTOR at Fo-
rest Hill, N. P. Banks at Waltham, and
Senator Boutwell, at Groton. .t
| WASHINGTON.
The public offices were all closed to-day,
and there was u general suspension of
business. The President, and Secretaries
Fish, Belknap, and Richardson, and At
torney- General Williams and other promi-
nent officials participated in the decoration
ceremonies at Arlington. 1t is estimated
that, notwithstanding the extraordinary
heat and dust, there were present on the
occasion not less than ten thousand per-
sons, many of whom were ladies'. The
preparation and adornment of the grounds
were on the most elaborate scale.
MARYLAND.
Decoration day was duly observed in
Baltimore. General Il. T. Anderson, of
Howard county, delivered an address at
Loudoun Park.
AT Laurel Hill, the resting place Of the
colored soldiers, appropriate ceremonies
took place.
NEW JERSEY.
The floral tribute to the honored dead
was duly rendered to-day at Trenton and
Burlington, at the former by committees
from Post No. s, Grand Army of the Re-
public.
DELAWARE.
The soldiers graves, at Seaford, were
decorated at o'clock last evening.
NOTICE TO TAx-PAYERs.