The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-07-15
Published by request.
Address on Decoration Day,

IN SlOhFlAMi BY kEN. W. N. hAVON'
Gentlemen Of Tie committee, friends and
tellov citizens -
In this centennial year, it is a most fit
ting time to begin to do what we have
too much neglected. to remember the
sleeping place o' our soldiers Let us
continnn uh-; NC havo now SO wsll begun.
Moved by common gratitude. common
interest and joy, we assemble to-day in
concert with the thousands to bear some
humble part in remembering our patriot
dead
We thank you for this generous ex.
preston of regard; this service Of song
this uplited banner. the emblem of our
freedom We thank you, gentlemen of
the committee, who have done your work
SO efficiently in caring for the soldiers
grave, We thank you, sir (Capt. j. s.
Ward). who have been so perseveriDg 10
stirring our community 20 this remem.
brance at the call Of the Grand Army OF
the Republic. We thank you one and
all, soldiers living among us, reaching
down nearer to your fallen comrades than
We can. We thank you, parents and
wives, who gave husbands and sons for
the salvation of our country.
And now We come to decorate the
graves and monuments in memory of the
soldier dead, Revolutionary and Union.
| have often felt, as | have done, like
taking of MY hat to the "boys in blue y
but as stand by their graves and monu'
ments erected for them, feel that my
deeds and words are poor, nay, nothing,
compared with theirs yet it is fitting
that wo perpetuate their memories. We
are asked today with flowers as the
best expression, to honor these resting
places Of our soldiers. Of both Revolution
ary aud Union reDown. Thus We alike
honor Bunker liill and Gettysburg. Thus
We proclaim the cause, princi Piles and
liberty enc Thus our soldiers monu
ment, which you have so beautifully
decorated to day, stands in sentiment sid'
by : de with that granite shalt 22O lee
high on Bunker Hill, speaking forth thu
same essential reasons for shoulderinl
arms. viz: TO establish and keep the SAM
liberty aud anion. Our revolutionary
5 achievements established the Union ou
1 late efforts, sariiiire and triumphs welde'
r the Union morc firmly together. Ii
. making on, nf those monster cannon, tn
columbads. baia OF steel are first hoopet
. together then thrust INTO seven time
A heated furnace, thence iaSen out an
e rolled under the blows az u gigantic trip
= hqmmer. and thus welded ,ndissolubl
e one. Oar fathers hooped the Union to
5 gether--a mastery work our son hus
F.. bauds and brothers of the late war di
= the Welding but at what n cost c
d treasure and life. Aud one beautiir
u feature 10 all this work, as expresse
upon our monument, different na., nal
ties had to do with it, TO day you wi
y read three distinct races upon that ma
BILE. We have long ago learned tt
Bible idea Of peace, goodwill and cha
ity and union, viz that differences Z
sentiment, name, color or people do NJ
'e necessarily imply hostility. "Diyerse I
Te the waves, but one as the sea" is goc
y, motto foT the Union as well as for Il
p Christian church. And in the work upt
our soldiers graves, yesterday. said OF
ID foreign born, who aided us. 81 will n
g. take a penny for my labor l will gi
be my services fer the soldier mob
a Illustration, a. touching our notion
d. the christian truth, in words Of the ap'
tie, "No more strangers nor foreigner
Id but fellow citizens" The phrase. fellc
citizens, hath christian origin. III
ne fraternal feeling was cherished in all o
army and developed by a common eau
en- and fostered to-day. He, who is will
a to die for my country is my brother, a
to him | give my hand this hour.
IN Thus we have done ~ putting flow