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

mcnts, the programme" i'
ercises on Decoration Day, came OH
in a very appropriate manner In
the afternoon of the day, most OF the
business places were closed, and at
1:3O o'clock the procession COM
menced forming on the campus
martius, at the hand stand. The
procession was in the following or
der: Marshal II. S. Seage; Band ;
Veterans Alpena Guards, under
command Of Capt. r. NJ. Donnelly;
three carriages with misses and
garlands of flowers; Orator, Hon
S. L. Carpenter; Mayor, Comptrol-
Ter. Recorder and City Attorney;
Aldermen, followed by citizens in
carriages, making q procession
about half a mile in length, which,
after being formed, proceeded up
Water street to Second street, and
thence up Second street and Wash
ington avenue to the Cemetery. On
arriving at the Cemetery the Neter-
ans and Guards formed in hollow
square, when the Band played a
dirge, which was followed by pray
err from Rev. VIM. Donnelly; then
more music from the Band, follow
ed by the address, which was deliv-
cred in very commendable man
ner by Hon. S. L. Carpenter, and is
as follows:
Fellow citizens and fellow SOL
diers With the return of this ma
tional holiday We have assembled
TO do honor to those who died de-
Tending the principles of our gov
crnment, and especially to those
whose remains repose in this quiet
cemetery. On this day we are,
with kind remembrauces, to strew
flowers over the graves of our fall
en- heroes, as our fellow citizens
are doing all over our country,
We are here, not 10 Undue our
selves with aspirit of hatred toward
those who were in war our enemies
but TO enkindle a better feeling
throughout our land, that they
may become in peace our friends.
For the accomplishment of this
purpose, and in such spirit as
this, we come to revive the memo
ries of the past when our country
and its institutions were in danger.
When threatenings of dissolu-
ton Of the Federal compact came
TO us in the laundering tones oi
the cannon, and when the beauti-
full flag Of orr country, respected
BY all nations. was openly and ruth
lessly insulted-aye, trailed in the
dust and trampled upon by those
who should have been its defeners,
then it was that loyal men of all
parties in our land rallied to the
standards of liberty, and, leaving
happy homes, loving wives and
children, mothers and sisters, they
went forth in defense Of our ma.
tons rights and our nations honor
The flag which was accustomed to
float in beauty over the increasing
prosperity of our land, became the
harbinger of war. When that was
insulted, the pride of the oldeu
time, tried in the furnace OF atfiic-
ton when a foreign foe invaded oui
shores, was enkindled anew, and
men from every rank, position, and
calling in life stood shoulder &c
shoulder in its defense. Money
was poured out with lavish hands
lives were freely offered, and the
same spirit which enabled us to
bear our losses in means and men,
continued to support with further
sacrifice, as the fortunes OF q pro-
tracted war demanded.
We do not meet to-day as we are
accustomed to do on our national
birthday, with gaudy pageants and
holiday rejoicings-a sadder spirit
rules the hour. With solemn steps
and plaintive dirge, we meet where
silently repose the sleeping dead
We meet to do honor to the brave
and generous defenders who stood
between our peaceful homes anC
the ravages of war.
No class, no sex, no age, Is ex
cluded from participating in these
solemn duties to-day; none are ex
cluded from doing honor to thos
who sleep beneath the sod; her
repose those who endured all tn
sufferings attendant upon a soldier
life; the long, tedious, fatiguin
march; the heat of southern sun
the wasting diseases of camp; th
death damps of prison life; th
perilous storms and exposures a
night. and the lonely and dan
gerous watch Of picket duty; thes
with the mangled limbs and tor
flesh, resulting from the terribl
battle, were among their bitter e,
periences.
IL was by such suffering, sue
beroism, that our country was az
Tended and saved. Receiving thi
heritage from their fathers, thes
n -