Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-06-02
Memorial Day at Waitsflpld.

In the absence of any home report of the
observance of Decoration Day at Waits
field, we copy the following from the St
Adams Messenger. whose editor Mr.
! Clarke. was the orator on that occasion.
| Post Answor,h at Waitsfield i, one Of
the most thoroughly alive and efficient or
carnations of the Grand Army in Yer
mont. 1t has observed Decoration Day
for four years, the addresses having been
delivered by Chaplain Harvey Webster.
Col +. V. Randall. Col, G. ii joyce. and
this year by Albert Clarke. On Sltur-
lay, there was 4 large assemblaTe Of
people from that town and MoretoWn.
| Duxburv. Fayston and Warren, and the
! Exercises were of Il character to interest
! them all. There are some four or five
cemeteries in town. to al of which the
Post marched in Il body. accompanied by
many citizens and escorted 10y the Waits
| ield Cornet Band and Il corps Of martial
! music. The ceremonies We're very similar
o those usually held. the only notice
| ,ble difference .being that the soldiers
| lnelt, uncovered, at each grave they
| decorated, and rs the flowers were depoSi-
| ed, there was salute Ivy the band and 4
,alvo of artillery.
| That patriotic town suffered The loss OF
| hirty or more of its soldiers.and there
| now rather more than that number Of Vet
| rams living in her midst. A. Il rule they
re among the leading citizens. and some
# them have grown up children who took
prominent parts in the observance of Dee
,ratOn Day Among them was the accom-
olshed daughter Of Capt. O. {. Wilder.
Who recited in 4 very crcditnble manner,
IL,
.rcses took place, Il poem suitable for the
occasion; also two daughters of Scrgt Geo
}. Bovce. who were little girls when their
father bucklcd on his armor. but are now
full grown and attractive vopnr ladies.
sang of the Reveille' as well rs though
HEY had heard it, and OF the " Faded Coat
# Blue" as tenderlv rs though they h1d
felt the at1lictien which MIGHT have brf,l-
len them had not the rebels reprntcl after
giving their father thirty miles ride on
The bare back of a mule. and then
given him his parole-which we are very
much afraid he violated at Gcty>hurg
Another very interesting ceremony ut
he stand was the decoration of Il typical
| monument by eight little girls. every one
l soldiers daughter and the recitation bv
| one of Them the daughter of Corp. ID. :
Stodlard. of Il beautiful Decoration ode.
This was a very touching scene. occurring
Just after the singing of the = Faded Coat
Of Blue" by the excellent q'ltrtrttc. aud
before lis conclusion there We're few dry
eyes in the assembly. Then came Il ten Ter
and patriotic PRAYER by Rev. Mr. >h"r-
burnc. pastor of the NJ. +. Church. TIN
recitation of the poem Very Dark.
which represents the death scene of a sol
der, by Miss Wilder. and then the address,
The people of Waitsicli are entitled to
much credit for the interest which they
take in patriotic occasions Ike this. and
there two prominent citizens. Pardon
Bushnell and Hiram Carlton. E~qrS, who
were especially active. The Post. and II
many of the citizens IL could b. a Omitted
sat down to 4 bountcous COLLATION. in Gran
Army Hall ut noon. and this j. 4 feature
! which might we'll be initiated in other
country towns. Bat above all. the inter
est taken in the day and the parts crlrm-
ed in the ceremonies bv the vounr. WIS
the most inspiring and noteworthy clrtr:tr-
reristic This example must b. followed
everywhere soon. for alas tn . boys
are fast growing old now. and It VIII not
be long before they viii be- one after
mother, enrolled with their comrades
''mustcred out
Decoration Day WAS vel observed in
III, tI,, S.1l;nY.' -.