Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-31


been set apart for the purpose Of doing honor Il
the memory OF cur fallen comrades, aud as tn
years g by the interest in the occasion does no
wane, but rather increases, and now it is NOR
generally observed than ever before. Nor
especially is this true in the Eastern States where
i'll every village and hamlet where there is soldier
erave-and there is one or many, in every place
for overly there was mourning in every house" -
their surviving comrades, under the leadership o
the Grand Army of the Republic, see to il that the
graves are not forgotten.
What memories cluster around this day How
wildly rise up before the and incidents o
our :.rny life; in the camp. the daily routine o.
drill and guard duty on the march, when oul
equipments, our sixty rounds and three days IA
tions, weighed heavily upon us before the day:
march was en:ed; the bivousc ct night without
shelter in the cold and storm, when camp fire;
were not allowed for they would disclose to the
enemy our position the picket line, when, weariec
by the days march, We fain would close our eye:
and get refreshing rest for the next days fighting
/ but We on the detail and must keep ourselves
on the alert and force our dropping eyelids TO per
form double duty; on the skirnish line the rather
/ enjoyable excitement OF scrimmage with the enc
mys skirmishers, we drive them back, we discover
| the position OF the opposing army then "rally on
| the battalion" a general engagement ensues
then comes the tug of war; = and lie
! has experienced it. person may read
OF battles, may study about battles may examine
all the representations of battles that are in exist
ence, may listen attentiyely TO the stories of battles
I
correct idea II what battle is unless he has been
there. But foremost among all the memories that
crowd in upon US and occupy our thoughts to-day is
| the memory OF the men who started with US at the
! beginning of the war; but who were less fortunate
than We, and never returned They were our school
mates, relatives our friends and neighbors. We
have seen them the heat OF battle, fall upon our
right hand and upon our left torn asunder by the
cannon ball or bursting SHE'LL or pierced to instant
death by the Mimic bullet. We have seen them SUI
ferng, langushing in the hospital either from DIS
ease or wounds, until they could no longer endure,
and death to their relief. Worse than all, we
have seen them die like dogs, from sheer lack OF
food, of clothing, of shelter In the oathsome prison
pen. 1t is these men whose memory we are here
to-day to honor and revere. To me, personally, the
| day is doubly sacred Sacred first, because it
| is Memorial Day = because il is the day
when our comrades all over the land unite
| in hOnoring the memory OF those who sacrificed
their lives that the nation might live. Sacred to
me, second because, far away the continent,
among the green hills OF New England lie buried
| my two brothers, who were with at the front,
and to day loving hands will decorate the r graves
with Flora's richest offerings
We decorate the graves of our comrades, who,
| when the country needed men, proved themselves
to be men loyal to their hearts core and who died
| for their country. BY so doing, we as nation
would teach the rising generation that 1t is honor
able to die for ones country; that loyalty patriot
isn love for and sacrifice for ones country, even
unto death, the greatest sacrifice that one make,
is honorable, and that the nation honors its heroic
taught Just that lesson. And that this ceremony
may be perpetuated, and the lesson make lasting
impression, We teach children the meaning o,
this observance, and to-day, for the first time here,
our children participate with us.
The war made many men, and unmade or ruined
many men. 1t made many men, because they i'm
proved the opportunity afford for exercising their
better faculties powers-the exercise of selfae-
NAL self sacrifice, unselfsh patriotism loyalty,
bravery; they above the evil influences that
must OF necessity surround one in ordinary camp
life and reached higher state If development than
they otherwise would have done, ard to-day those
whose lives have been prolonged are among the
best citizens Of the Republic. Men who are thor
ougtly disciplined, who understand the first princi-
pie necessary to good citizenship, viz obedience to
lawful authority; OF strict integrity, who be
relied upon in any and every emergency 1t un-
made or ruined many men because they had not
sufficient strength Of character to resist the evil in
uences that surrounded them, bit yielded to their
selfish tendencies-common to the race-and at the
close OF the war were totally untitled for good cit
Zenshp
Comrades, are we good citizens. in the highest,
pun est sense? II there is any man that should be
such citizen, it is the citizen soldier. May the
experiences which We have passed through, the
memoI les OF which again revived to day. tend
to make us better men, better citizens Let us see
to it that The principles for which these dead
comrades s.crifc their lives shall ever be main
tained and the influence which each one of US has
in his special sphere OF action shall be exerted
the side Of right shall be given to making our
cause to regret that we "wore the loyal blue "
Soon our surviving comrades, or our children and
their friends, will, as Memorial Day annually comes
around, decorate our graves, for soon we must all
answer to roll-call on the other side As now
unite with our comrades all over the land, and pass
around this cemetery from mound to mound, let us
remember also the numberless unknown graves
scattered all over that portion OF our land which
was the scene Of the conflict comrades who fell in
the midst of the strife and there was by sympa.
thiZing friend to give them cup OF cold water
to soothe their dying agones to mark the spot OF
their last resting place.
After singing another chorus thread
Lightly Ger Their Graves the members of
the Grand Army proceeded to each soldiers
grave in the cemetery, which were marked
by small flags, and placed wreaths, bouquets
and f1wers upon them-all receiving their
share of the floral offerings. Tie procession
was then re formed and marched back to the
city and dispersed.
SERVICES AT THE THEATER.
The closing services were held at the
Metropolitan Theater in the evening, which
was filed to its utmost capacity with select
audience. Every part of the house was &C.
cupied by persons who had obtained reserved
seats, while upon the stage, IN addition to
the parties named to take part in the pro-
eramue, was a chorus Of one hundred in
number. The floral decorations of the stage
were rich and extensive. II. A. Burnett,
Commander of Summer Post No. 8, presided.
After an overture by the orchestra, prayer
was offered by DIR. /. E. Dwinell.
Commander Burnett delivered an opening
address, speaking as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen To you, the citizens of
Sacramento and vicinity, the members Of Sumner
Post, Grand Army OF the Republic feel deeply in
debted for the able assistance you have rendered us
in the due observance OF Memorial Day. For again to-
hon rod horn .Cb
to-day our hearts have throobed with gratitude
love and patriotism. To day, what memories we
have recalled, IS we have again decorated with
flowers the graves Of our heroes--heroes al Some
glorious with Wet ~, scme name.ess and unknown
But while thrill with grief and PRIDE Tor our
illustiious dead, We remember with as deep Srlei
aud pride the thousands Of nameless ones who,
without hope fame, or recoulpense and glory,
lett home mother wife aud sweetheart, and gave up
life Itself, that our country might i've
'Four hundred thousand men,
The brave ths good, and true,
In tangled wood and mountain glen,
On battle plain, i'll prison pen,
Hsve died for and YOU;
Four hundred tsoussnd of the brave
Have made our raasomed land their grave,
For me and YOU;
Comrades, for me- and you.
As nature blooms afresh for the day her beauti.
ful blossoms aad gsrlands SO in a nations count
less hearts blooms afresh the garland OF love,
pity and reverence. nations honor-their
monument, Il UltlOu rive - thSii iS" w
And far away DER this iar land, in homes nestled
BY bill aud vale, by resijes, where all he opc1 held
dear are clustered, there each soldiers name Is
treasured there, slriaed in hearts that sent hlrn
forth in hope and fear battle for the right, each
hero hves for he was theirs proudly to give, to
lose to mourn And we have not forgotten to-day
our other dead-the FOES in the stsife. a solder
honors 3 fallen foe. Towing hearts toby have
rnoI ned them their sod is green. Let pity and
love spring up and blossom there.
Before proceeding to the regular exercises
desire to say few words TO 81 cxsoldiers ard
sailors present. who have not connected them elves
with the Pest. We not political organization
neither, as some have said, do we belong to any
party We are simply comrades, bound together
by that tie of brothe which shoeldunite every
Old soicer and sailor TO chcri h for each other
kind aud fraterna feelings; to assist distressed
comrade; TO extend helping hand to his
widow and orphans; to keep green in our
hearts the memories OF those who have gone
before TO stand firm by the old flag,
the old glory, that inspired you in the
days gone by, and that our heroes have left
u.s. with the stars of its azure undmned to be
loyal and true to country that country you
periled your lives to save, ard when comrade
drops from our ranks to muster in The Grand
Army above, with saddened hearts to lay him ten
derby beneath the stars OF heaven, where whisper
ing and musing winds shall ever sigh his
reluium.
These only are cur duties. These duties, these
memories yours. Then join our ranks, that We
may extend and strengthen these noble impulses
that may keep alive these sentiments OF love and
patriotism, and thst We may beqneath them to our
children, and chiicren's children, th.t in their