Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-06-06
Decoration Day In Burlington.

pirate and impressive observance, In our
city, than it had Friday. The day could
not have been finer for the purpose. The
rain of the night before had laid the dust,
and the cool pure air was in pleasant con-
trast with the oppressive heat OF several
previous decoration days.
There was general cessation from busl-
ness, throughout the city. The flags fioated
at half mast on the City Hall, Custom
House, hotels, and from stores and places
of business. and private dwellings too
numerous to mention. The public exercises
commenced at half past one p. m
THE PROCESSION
formed on the square under the capable di-
rection of Chief Marshal. Gen. j. l.. Bars
tow, assisted by his aids. Col. T. ). Peck and
Cant George Simpson, in the following or
der:
|. Queen City Band, gay in their new
uniforms and Prusslan helmets with scarlet
plumes. preceded by detachment of the
! CITY Police. commanded by Chief l.. \.
| Drew.
,. Officers and members Of Stannard Post,
No. .. Grand Army of the Republic, bear
| inc the national colOrs, the staff Surmount-
ed bva wreath twined with Grape; and Vet
| Grams of the late war.
| 3. Disabled soldiers, and soldiers OF lol2
in carriages.
4. Chaplain and speakers and Quartette
| Club in carriages.
5. Carriages containing the committee on
! flowers with the floral offerings.
| 6. Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the
| city of Burlington, and representatives OF
the Press, in carriages.
:. St. Mary's Cornet Band.
/ s. Fire Department OF burlington, the
| following companies turning out: Boxer
/ Engine Co. No. 3, Capt. Crosby; Rough
and Ready Hook and Ladder Co., Capt
| Denninr Ethan Allen Co. No. 4. Capt
Drew; Volunteer Hose No. |, Capt Nichols;
/ Star Hose Co. No ,, Capt Spear Howard
Hose Co. No. ), Capt Willard. Each com
pany turned out in uniform, and in fine
| order, most of the companies with white
gloves, and each bearing its colors
0. Citizens on foot and in carriages
The line OF march was up Main to Church
and College streets, through College street
to futile street, through futile street to
| Colchester Avenue, thence to Green Mount
Cemetery. The Queen City Band played
dead march as the column entered the
cemetery The exercises
At GREEN MOUNT CEMETERY
were as follows, Commander Gibbs of Post
Stannard announcing the exercises and in
Producing the speakers
l. Prayer by Rev. Henry Graham.
, Chorus" My Country It's of thee,
by the Grand Army Quartette Club. accom-
panied by the Queen City Band. the congre-
cation joining.
3 Address by Gen. W. W Henry
CEN HENRY's ADDRESS.
Courades. and FeLloo CM-cus - In
obedience 10 the orders of our Commander
in Chief, We are met here to-day. 10 deck
with tears and flowers the last resting place,
of our dead comrades and on account of
di~appOiutments, may not be hardened bY
these our fellow citizens and friends. if |
occupy their time for few moments in ad-
dition to the sad, but at the same time
pleasant duty of remembering our fallen
comrades, in giving some of the reasons for
this decoration ceremony some of the
reasons for such an organization as the
Grand Army Of the Republic, and rs it ap-
pears 10 me. some Of their duties towards
~ This is not new ceremony. but n re-
viyal of a custom that was observed by Bo-
man, Grecian, and English example
Flowers have ever been held by these ma
ti0ns as the natural tribute of sorrow. en-
DlemS of affection, and testimonials of re
membance We deck with them the affairs
of our religion, we garland with them the
brides of our choice, we ercircle
with them the cradle Of our latest
born. We garnish with them the
sanctuaries of home. " hy should We not
scatter them on the graves Of the loved and
lost, and invest even the cold sepuchre
with faithful symbols fhope and immortali
ty?
To the living warriors who return 10 y0u
from the perilous battle field, you have very
many ways Of maniiesting your affection !
and gratitude. You may grasp them by the !
hand You may fold them TO your bosom
you may enrich and aiorn their lives with /.
your munlhcence You may rear for them /
costly hospitals and homes a; You may deco /
rate them with honors and Offices you may /
elevate them to positions 50 exalted that /
they Will command the respect and venera- /
tio1 Of all mankind. All this and very /
much more you may do for the living but .
what can We do Tor the dead-oh what for I
the dead? What for these youthful martyrs |
- recently filed to OVERLOOKING with vigor-
Gus and sanguine life with affections,
aspirations, hopes, warnings, infinite ca
pacities, Demonstrating thoughts and fan
cies, instantly sent, perhaps " To lie in
cold abstraction, and to rot This sensible
warm motion TO become o seu-eless ciJd. "
Oh what for thom
In behalf Of these departed comrades. how
lmpotent, how insignificant are all the
resources Of affection and gratitude
Next Ito that Immortality which conveys
TO Us a conscious personal existence in the
assembly of the just made perfect, no boon
Is more coveted by the thoughtful mind
than that which insures Us an everlasting
existence in the memory Of our fellow men.
II my voice could summon one Of these
departed comrades visibly before you, and
with tears in my eyes, and heart upon my
lips, | should ask him, in your name.
'' What, what, o faithful soldier, can we
do for thee - would he not be likely to
respond 10 my Invocation, by murmuring
- ReWeHitcr me-.
What was the parting injunction Of
divine wisdom and forecast, incarnatcd in
Mary son, but " This do in remembrance
of me, ~ aud eyer since lie has assembled 20
the bosom of His Father and been crowned
with the unalloyed iruition of that blessed
and glorious realm, he has constantly
ratified by his benediction. the memorial of
Himself, which lie instituted upon earth,
thus suggesting 10 Us the comforting As
surance that permanent place in the
memory of mortals may not be unaccepta-
bic to that expanded intelligence which our
immortal martyrs may have attained in
heaven.
Since, then. my comrades and friends We
can tender to those departed beneiactors
who have inundated themselves that we
may live and enjoy the blessings of a free
government, nothing but remembrance let
Us give them that IN magnificent setting. /
Let Us raise to their names and memories,
monuments OF enduring marble and imper ,
lshable bronze. But for fear even these /
shall perish, let US follow up this custom Z
that has been inaugurated by W, and make
L 4 holy ddy,o which, with each returning I
spring, when the earth itself is reavaken- /
inginto lille, when these flowers whose |
'Oots were buried in dishonor are rising !
lgaln IN glory, we shall quietly withdraw Y
rom the haunts of busy men, to medita- l
ION with these silent companions, to scatter /
With prodigal hand upon their graves these d
significant mementos of sorrow, affection f
nd remembrance.
In few short years-Oh how short :
~ '"'' SA"S H.ouou Olu NtlCThu, Win tut- I
ering step and trembling hand. will depos- +
tie springs floral offering on the graves of
rs comrades. The next returning Decora
ion Day will find him absent when the roll
: called, and this memorial service must be t
ertormed, fiat all by your children, fellow
ltiZens, with ours Va II be done? {
The hour demands that we should remem
or that the war in which these men perish d
d was prominently just in itself, and Il
arried on for the best good of the human u
ace. History will be sought in vain to find ~,
lstances where war has been more right u
ously waged than by Us during the great L
sbelliOn i.
1t was said by Cicero, that no war can be
ndertaken by just and wise state, unless =,
n faith, or selEdefence This self-detence u
the state, is necessary to secure its per-
etuity, and this perpetuity is what all Il