The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-12
Memorial Day at Winchester.

Last Friday, the annual decoration OF the
soldiers graves took place at the Stonewall
Cemetery, Winchester, Va. The ceremonies
were very imposing, for in addition the usu-
al programme on such occasions, two splen-
did monuments were unveiled and the ded-
ication services took place. Excursion trains
were run from all directions, and the crowd
to 10000 persons. From Staunton, the West
Augusta Guard, under Capt. Bumgardner,
and the Staunton Artillery, with four rifle
pieces, under Capt. A. Fl. Fultz, attended,
besides number of private citizens.
OF the monuments, the larger was erected
to the Unknown Dead" and is magnifi-
cent column 40 feet high and weighing 65
tons. On its summit is a statute of private
!nfantryman at ''rest on arms" and on the
front OF the die an enlarged fac-simile of the
seal OF the Confederate States with its mot
to, "Deo Vimdice,' and ON the remaining
three sides are appropriate Inscriptions.
The procession was formed under the
chief marshalship of Gen. Joe e. johnson,
to the cemetery outside of the city. In
speech beautiful and appropriate, Governor
Holiday introduced the orator of the day,
Senator Morgan, of Alabama. Among others,
Governor Holiday gave expression to the
following sentiments, which do credit alike
to his head and heart:
'Wkate heartburnings, or enmties, or
strife exist will be buried here, for the grave.
yard is and will remain a common heritage,
and to Southern hearts "a possession forev-
err Some buried here were leaders, some
humble men whose remains were recognized
when they died. This monument lifts itself
to the skies in their memory. May it, said
the speaker, stand for ages a tribute to the
heroic and unselfish valor of the dead from
the grateful and admiring patriotism of the
living. Let no man dare say there is any
thing in this narrow, sectional or dsloyal.
The dead past is buried here. Civil wars
must in Gods providence sometimes come.
On the battle field principles are struggled
for which, whether the cause be lost or won,
permeate the constitution of the government
|. and the utterances of the patriots who suffer
by subtle alchemy are blended with the ma
TONS triumphal song. Rest assured these
noble men who died with or without name
have not died in vain. This tribute is not
an empty, unmeaning show. In little
while it will be the glory Of the common
country. Within sight-just over yonder
fence-lie the thousands who fell upon these
same fields in the Federal uniform. Those
were, doubtless, as earnest as these,for they
died by each Others hand. Think you that
it was in vain !? God does not SO work. The
death of the hero is the life of the State, Just
oe the blood nf the martyr is the seed of tho 4
church. Those died for the rights of the
Union; these for the rights Of the States.
From the monuments erected over either
will one day spring an arch in which the
hopes and memories OF both shall be inter-
woven with the golden threads of Gods
eternal love and truth, and on which the
eyes Of the people shall ever read how indi-
vidual rights and local government can live
In sweet harmony with the central power
and glory Of the great republic.
II the reports we have read In the Baltl-