Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY.
It's Second Annual Observance at Inde-
pendence.

The second annual occasion for the
observation of the beautiful custom Of
strewing with flowers the graves of oul
dead soldiers, occurred in this city yes
terday, and was success, fully up tC
the anticipation of the most sanguine. Il
was feared by many that the weather
would be unpropitious. For two days
before, the clouds had covered the sky
from which, at periods, had poured the
rain, and on Wednesday evening the
prospect was anything but bright one
for pleasant day on the morrow. But
the preparations went on, however, and
the exercises would have taken place if
the rain had fell in torrents. Thursday
morning dawned cool, clear and bright
and everybody's spirits rose accordingly
At s o'clock A. NJ, detachment of Co.
Ii marched to the depot to receive Co.
1, from Jesup, and the veteran soldiers,
who arrived on the train from the west.
They marched back to the city, to the
stirring music of Thayer's martial band,
and proceeded to their headquarters at
Lcytzes Hall, where they were dismiss
ed People from the country began
pouring in from all directions, and our
streets soon assumed the appearance of
Fourth of July celebration.
At 100 P. M. the grand procession
was formed by Marshals Wilson and
Jones, in the following ORDER Cavalry
Co., Thayers martial band, Veteran sol
diers of the county, Jesup guards, In
dependence Guards, Independence Cor
net Cornet band, Steamer Co., Cataract
Engine Co. The procession then moved
through Main and up Chatham streets
to the Catholic Cemetery, where the
different organizations filed around the
sides, and detachment of Co. H pro-
ceeded to decorate the graves of the SOL
diers buried there. Then followed
prayer by Rev. il. Gosker, and the
procession was again formed, and the
line of march back to the city resumed.
On north Walnut street the procession
was halted, and new feature added to it.
This was a magnifcently decorated car,
containing the Goddess of Liberty and
the Queens of the North, South, East
and West. These were represented re-
spectively by the following young ladies'
Misses Fannie Hale, Bertha A. Luckey,
Minnie Van Ordsdol, Nettie Evers and
Elsie Older. After the admission of
this feature, the procession was started
and moved down Main street, across the
river, through some of the principal
streets, thence back again to Main St.,
and down Walnut street to the grove.
Here took place the exercises arrang-
ed for this part of the programme, which
consisted of singing by the Glee Club,
who rendered some appropriate choruses
in a feeling manner. Then followed
prayer by the Chaplain, Rey. JAS Pat
terson, and another song by the Glee
Club. After this came the grafton, by
Hon. j. B. Powers, which, although nee
essarily short, from lack of time, was
one of the most touching tributes to the
to the memory of the patriot dead to
which we ever listened He wildly re-
called the days when many of his hear
ers left bright home and loving friends
and relatives to 60 far away and give
battle to the enemies of our country;
when the brave boys pinned their lives
to their sleeves and went forth that
their county mi ght live
During the speech, many of his hear
ers- strong men, on whose heads the
storms Of life have beaten For three
score or more Of years-werc seen to
brush away tear, as they thought of
the Days that tried mems souls At
the conclusion of the grafton, the indie
pendence Cornet Band favored the
crowd with choice piece of music, af-
ter which Lieut.. Frank d. Jackson
rendered in fine manner, the original
poem, written for the occasion by James
Young, of Westburg, which we here
insert:
Napoleon, in the race for fame
In history left wondrous name;
His rise, his fall, from low estate,
Form lessons for the guilty great.
With martial genius c0nrnrp skill