Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-06-04
Decoration Day.

the auspices OF Post Brooks last Frlday
With less of ceremony and military display
than usually attends such gatherings, every
thing was appropriate to the occasion. Vii,
lage Hall was we'll filled with floral offerings
during the forenoon.
After noon places of business were closed
throughout the village, and as the time fol-
the services drew near. Village Hall was filled
with soldiers and citizens who wished t.
take part in the ceremonies. Throughout
the day the music furnished was most excel.
lent and more fifty mingled with, and made
itself part of, the exercises than could have
been the case had it been from even the best
bands usually had at such times. The ritual
services of the Grand Army, too, impressed
all.
After the singing Of America, Rev. N. N
Glazier offered prayer. Keller's American
Hymn followed, after whichscame an address
from Rev. Mr.. Glazier, which moved the
whole audience. His language was mainly
addressed to his fellow soldiers, and in it he
sketched briefly, and in clear cut lines, the
objects of the Grand Army of the Repu bile.
the brotherhood of those who had camped
and fought together Such services as those
of the day were part of the objects of this
order. 1t was to keep fresh the memory of
those comrades who died in arms, so long as
soldiers of the war survived. And not only
that, but to assist those who have lived and
are unfortunate. To keep I'M exercise the
lesso of brotherly assistance learned in
the army, and to help as may be done the
families of departed comrades. The organ
ization had too, as an object, the preserva-
ton of allegiance to the COVER nment, and in
fine, the maintenance of the government, and
the spread of its liberal and just foundation
principles. Ia speaking of the memories o.
the war, Mr. GIazier, said that, while the
names Of battles might be blotted from the
battle-fags, other marks never could be
efaced. Mr.. Glazier, as peculiarly the rep
resentative of Post Brooks, did that organ
ization honor by his eloquent address, and
by his words added most fitting decoratio n
to the memory Of those Of whom he SO feel
ingly spoke.
Hon. C. W. Willard followed Mr.. Glazler.
Mr.. Willard said, if he could have his own
pleasure, he should not add word, after the
eloquent and appropriate remarks to which
all had listened with 50 much pleasure-re-
marks made by one who had earned the right
by gallant service to speak on such an
occasion. The day broughS with it flood OF
recollections. 1t carried US back to the
beginning OF the war treason made on the
government. We all remembered how the
slumbering patriotism of the people of the
North was startled by the first guns of the
rebellion, and from every hilltop the old flag
was seen as a flaming signal. From all our
valleys aud mUuntaln-sides the young, strong
men rallied to the rescue of an imperilled
government. The nation was baptized anew
received almost new birth-in the burning
zeal of patriotism. We all remembered the
weary days md weeks and months and years
that followed-how the government called
gain and again and again for defenders
of the country-how almost every home had
father, a husband, a brother, son, in the
thick of the battle, and the air was heavy
with the pain and anguish and sorrow that
filled the whole land. Households were
bercft, hearts were made desolate, the coun-
try was bleeding at every pore. The speaker
recalled especially the. Fourth of July 1868, -
now the morning of that day, usually
welcomed with the glad acclaim of an exult-
ant people, came in silence and in terrible
anxiety to the North. For many hours the
hearts OF the people had been beating in mea-
sure with the pulsating news from the
armies at Gettysburg The two great repre-
sentative armies OF the civil war then stood
face to lace on that since historic field, and
we could almost hear the fearful crash OF
SHOT and she'll, as the conflict ragged. The
lightning flashed tidlngs of the awful surges
OF the battle, but not until the evening Of
that day did the shout of victory 90 over the
wires and still, into thousands of loving
hearts, whose patriotism leaped exultant at
that shout, came an unutterable sorrow
Victory had only come through death, the
death OF brave men who went out from peace
tul, happy homes all along our valleys anC
mountains. That battle military men have
since agreed was the turning point of the
war, aud the rebellion that there retreated
only attcrward rallied with ever decreasIn 2
force until the final surrender. In that bat
tie Vcrmonters bore no inconsderable part
aud there are officers present here to-day, off
GERS in this Post, whose GOODNESS anc
gallantry 10 that engagement have received
deserved notice and praise.
The speaker said he must turn away from
these recolections, and briefly dwell upor
the lesson which such ceremony as thin
decoration of soldiers graves brought with it
Loving hearts, and hearts filled with patriotic
tcrvor. had gathered these fair sweet ti)wers
of our northern spring-time to scatter upor
the turf now green ABOVE the restlng-places
of the brave men whose memories we honor
1t was tittingly called a memorial service
but it had deeper and wider significance
than mere affectI0nate remembrance OF noble
lives sacrificed in the storm of war. Thi
men whose graves we decorate were not alone
patriots. They died for something besides
love of country. In the grand hymn JUS
sang, country Is something more than native
land, something more than home.
My country tits of thee,
Sweet land OF liberty,
OF thee sing"
1t was for freedom imperllled, 1T was be
cause the government and the flag mean
more than integrity of territory,-because il
meant and that it light mean, equal rights
last and highest evidence of their devotion t.
it. In other governments,- government:
which are the possession of family, or of al
oligarehv, or OF an aristocracy military rep
utation has been made much of, and tn
brave soldier has been honored, and patriot
ism has been sung as the chief virtue of the
citizen and this in order that none
and pensions and fame and peerages and es
tates might make patriotism popular, and tn
soldiers profession a defence of the rulin;
families. But patriotism has profounde
significance and a richer reward than thi
with us. The soldiers of the nation,-th
Grand Army of the Republic-were parts o
the government for whose existence they
offered their lives as sacrifice. The coun
| try they saved was their country, was you
country, is my country. 1t is the possession
of no family, of no party. of no set of men
but is the common heritage, and the hum
blest child has an equal stake in it with tn