Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-06-04

our brave soldiers fought and died
in our late civil war.
We are here then as joint heirs
of n common Inheritance one in
interest; one in purpose; one in
faith: one in hope; one in duty |;
one in sympathy; one in tears,
forgetting all differences and es-
arrangements as we gather to do
honor to departed worth.
We are not assembled to-day to
do honor to man, to serve the in
terests ofparty, or to do homage to
throne or government raised upon
PROSTATE human rights; not in
regal romp, but in the dignity of
freemen to cherish the memory Of
the true and the brave. We have
come To beautify with natures
choicest flowers these sacred mounds
in which are deposited the sleep
ing dust of the heroes of many a
well fought field of battle. Here
nature, true 10 herself, has covered
their graves with her robe OF
green: the hand of affection has
not forgotten to adorn them with
tokens of remembrance, and the
stranger pauses to do honor to the
memory of those who fought for
| liberty and right.
In doing honor to the martyrs
who fought on different fields in
our civil struggle, | would not for
get that valiant band "who since
that time fought where they fell
and fell where they fought" in
their brave encounters with the
merciless savage. Fathers and
mothers are mourning their sons
TODAY: wives lament the absence
of a husband whose noble form was
laid to rest in q soldiers rude
grave far away from the quiet OF
home; children often weep when
memory brings to mind that sad
morning when with tears and kiss
: es and kind words, father babe
: them farewell forever.
To my veteran soldier friends OF
Alpena, | can truly say, yours is a
noble record. "You are the rem
= nant of many a well fought field
: The casualties Of war were un-
! usually severe to some OF the regi-
: ments to which you belonged. and
: the keen remembrances OF those
trying days can never be etiaced
{ the hardships you were called upon
, to endure may now seem trivial
the self-denials of camp life merit
: no rehearsal, but the dangers and
; scenes of the battlefield at times
. burst upon your minds with such
: yividness as to cause q shudder
! When YOU went forth to battle you
/, went with the blessings of friends
and with the same JOY that welcomed
: your return to your homes, We
. cordially welcome you here.
; From the memories and associa'
: tons which carry you back to the
: first roll call of the different regi'
ments you represent, we turn &c
. the realities of to-day. One by
= one your surviving comrades are
? being mustered out, surrenderine
{ to no human foe, but to the
mighty conQueror, death. Here
| and there vacant place is made
: in your ranks, and at roll call ST.
e lence only answers to the names o.
? the many who are absent. Wearied
with life's march, they have gone
] to Join the ranks of the armies
2 above.
: Among the hosts Of men who laic
] down to die under the shadow o
the stars and stripes, whose eyes
: grew dim amid the carnage Of bat
;. tie, not knowing whether their
D blood was to fertilize land of free
dom or of bondage, were many
e brave and loyal men Of Michigan
5 Bravest, where all were brave ano
D loyal unto death-a few lie her,
quietly sleeping near their peace
r full homes, but the dust of til,
! many mingles with the dust of thu
| foe on nearly every battle field o
D the republic.
What more precious legacy car
; we transmit to generations yet tc
come, than the sacred spot where
the ashes of your loved ones sweet
, ly repose in this silent home Of the
+ dead. Here they rest.
: "The echoes Of the willing drum,
No more shall start their sleep;
Into their dreams no more shall come,
The bayonets flashing sweep;
I Rest we'll oh, soldier, true and brave
, The Springs first bloom shall deck thy grave,
| And love its vigils keep"
1t is peculiarly fitting that W.
5 perform this sacred duty; by it WI
e re-kindle our patriotism, and i'm
!. part fresh vigor to our love o
e country, kinsman and home. ]
4 will Undue our children with tn
d spirit of &c, and inspire them wit
noble emulation, in initiating til
: virtues and heroic deeds whicl
e have crowned our arms with glor,
: and honor, and Immortality; an
e as the past comes back to US wit
e its treasured memories, the futur
e breaks in with its hopes and fears
s The past points to its sacrifices, j,
g treasures wasted, its struggles an
!; victories, disasters and defeats, II