Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-06-05
Decoration Day.
AT NIDDLKBURY.

The day was remarkably clear with
a north wind in which our national flag
floated at half mast Early people were
on the move, making arrangements FIR
the proper observance of the d.. a
deputation of citizens left With our hand
for East Middlebury, to tall. mart II, the
ceremonies az that piaf~-, in honor of
the brave men who S'.eep in their Gene
terry A large procession was formed at
upper hall, at ten a. m. and proceed
ed 70 the Cemetery where, after PRAYER
by Rev. ,hr. Bidwell, the graves were
strewPL with flowers. Short speeches
Wee then made by Mr.. Bidwell, A. 2.
upper and others, and the company
returned. The ceremony was performed
under the direction of the post of the
g. A. r. at this place. At three D.
m. large procession was formed in this
village, led by the band followed by the
military company and soldiers of the late
war, connected with the post at this
place. Following these were the pupils
of our graded school, over two hundred
and fifty in number Previous to the
procession being formed, the children
assembled at the hall, and were adj
dressed by Prof. Higley, and DR.. Kitch-
ell. Prof. II. was in the service and
has record of being one of the BRAY
est and most efficient soldiers in the.
field, being attached to the cavalry regi-
ment of our State. A large crowd of
people of this and neighboring towns
had gathered at the cemetery. The
graves of the brave men who died that
the nation might live and rise to a nobler
destiny, were all marked by miniature
flags. Upon the arrival of the process
sion at the cemetery a hollow square
was formed. The beautiful service of
the Grand Army of the Republic was
appropriately read. A brief, earnest
and touching prayer, full of deep toned
feeling and feryent pietY was offered by
Rev, w. II. Meeker of the Methodist
church. The choir sung a beautiful
piece, and MIR. James NJ Slade being
called on, made few remarks, and was
followed by an excellent address by w.
III. Utley, member of the senior class
of Middlebury College. The choir sane
with thrilling effect, the Star .Spangle5
Banner, and the congregation -
dismissed. The procession We 49,, .a
formed and the several n-.orao s sn.l -,
with hoquets OF -atif1l flowers .G This
being being acsompli'tn led, the people thought.
Th,:y an' -.owly returned to their homes.
rs has passed into history the beauti-
ful and touching services of Decoration
Day for 1873, in hiddlebury. How full
OF meaning, furnishing much for Thought
and deep reflection. 1t is no unmeaning
and idle ceremony. Around them clus,
ter the most hallowed and sacred asso-
Citations. Every year will add to their
interest and power for good. They serve
to keep alive in the hearts and affections
OF every true American, a deem and
abiding love for the memory of the
brave men who laid down their lives
that, in the language of the martyred
Lincoln, this government of the peo-
pie, by the people and for the people.
should not perish from the earth" Side
by side with the Fourth of July. LET the
day be ever observed, and when appro-
priately kept it will seem to keep alive
the hearts of the people, the sacrifices
made, the anguish endured, the blood |
spilled, the lives given, all, all for the |
salvation OF the republic. AS we look |
upon our national flag, the stars and the |
stripes, emblems of love. liberty and |
law, let the whole people remember that |
1t has been bathed in the blood of the
purest patriots the world eyer saw. that
not star might be blotted, not single
stripe erased, but that it mi ght ever fioat
throughout our own land, upon the Sea.
ana through the world, telling of the
power Of REPUBLIC, founded upon lib.
erty, law and the rights of man. No,
nigh heaven bless thee, our own bel "
country, With increasing prospa- owed
only financially but religious' ,.Ity. not
tually and morally. The nv. intellec-
we be nation where r Al indeed shall
anu our power lor God is the Lord,
extreme parts r. good be felt to the
Much gre" Il the inhabitable globe.
furnishs' ait is due to the ladies who
whu. u the flowers for the occasion.
added, to these were many beau.