Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-25
MEMORIAL DAY.
Its ComrnemOratIOn I'm Savannah
Am Eloquent Appeal TO Every
Georgian.

our people as q proper time 10 pay annual
tribute to the heroes of the late war, who
sacrificed their precious lives in defense Of
the principles of constitutional liberty
and Of their beloved South. This
remembrance Of departed Yalor and
~gallantry is shown In the decoration OF
the graves Of our heroic dead, and the La
dies Memorial Association have made ar
engagements for the decorating Of the graves
OF those who rest beneath the sod in that
portion Of Laurel Grove Cemetery
known as the SOLDIERS Lot" In this
connection the following beautiful lines,
contributed by Rev. Henry W. Cleveland, to
the April number Of the Southern MusicG
Journal, are appropriate, and will be read
with sad interest. 1t is entitled
DECORATION DAY.
Let us gather meath the laurels,
Where the holy dust doth lie;
Let us pile the blooming flowers
Twixt the marble and the sky.
Common lives of common endings-
Heartache makers-roundus spread,
But we come with special off'rings,
These to day are Hero Dead.
Some are missing where the river,
Blue Potomac softly flows,
Some by the broad Mississippi,
Some where Georgia's pine tree grows.
Missing here, but not up yonder.
Where the Blue and Grey shall stand;
Christ-Reyiewer and inspector
or the armies Of that land.
Swords are sheathed and cannons silent,
Flags are furled and hates forgot,
And the North and South together,
Write on graves: Forget me not.
God our Father, bless our soldiers,
Who have died to make men free;
God our Father, take our flowers
Let their fragrance rise to Thee.
Whilst it is our mournful privilege to pay
this simple tribute to the memory of those
whose mortal remains have found their fna,
resting place beneath our own sod, it ha:
ever been a source of regret that there are
hundreds OF Georgians buried in Virgins
whose resting place finds no commemora
ton, and it is the earnest desire of our Me
mortal Association that some
similar to those erected by other States Owe
their dead in the Confederate Cemetery al
Winchester be erected.
With this object in view, the following
eloquent appeal has been addressed to Geor.
gtans generally, and we hope 1t will have
echoing response in every heart
We would here state that boxes
will be found or the table at the entrance
w A~A OAOEO OAACb -UuOTIOW dlICI
noon, and the contributions received will
be devoted to that purpose, and 1t is to be
hoped that the thousands who will to-mor
row afternoon thrOng the sacred enclosure
OF the dead will let their liberality be the
test of their interest and devotion. The ap.
peal is as follows:
APPEAL.
The Confederate Cemetery at Winchester
Virginia, is divided into sections which rep.
resent the different States whose dead repose
within its limits. Georgia has furnished 9
larger proportion of these unmarked heroes
than any State except Virginia. In the cen.
tire. OF this gathered host, Virginia has erect.
ed a column ''to the unknown dead;' and
Virginia, and almost every other State there
represented, has, In its own section, raised
its monument to designate and honor its
own children. Georgia alone, largest among
her Southern peers in wealth, and
advancement, yet withholds the poor tribute
of her recognition, and suffers her heroic
sons to moulder in obscurity, unmarked.
unhonored and unknown.
The ladies OF the Memorial Association
of Savannah have long been solicitouc
to lift this reproach from their State, and to
adopt some initiative step at least which
may lead to the erection of an appropriate
column in the section which contains the
bones of Georgia's dead.
The movement inaugurated here may
touch the hearts of others In the State, and
may result in the accomplishment Of a pur-
pose enforced by every sentiment of ten.
derness, gratitude and pride.
The ladies of the association have nc
right to apply the regular income of the as.
ISOLATION to the object in view; but 1t Is
within their province to divert to this holy
purpose the contributions to be received at
4h n ~ oknru rrofa t1NaO e. 49,. Il l. 81
ing, as they do, that such application OF
these contributions, for this year at least,
will not impair the due discharge of theil
local and more especial functions.
The ladies of the Memorial Association OF
Savannah, after due consideration, there
fore give notice that all contributions taken
up upon Memorial day of this year will be
devoted by them to the purpose Of securing
a fund for the erection OF a suitable monu-
ment In the section of the cemetery at Win.
chester, Virginia, containing the remains of
Georgia's dead.
The ladies trust that for the contamination
of this worthy object they do not appeal to
the people OF Savannah IN vain.
No sentiment Is more sacred or tender
than the sense of desolation which comes
to a mothers heart when a dear child lies in
a distant and uncared for grave. The brave
Georgians who died In Virginia, aud who
lie there unmarked and ~unhonored, are the
children Of their mother Georgia. Surely
they did not perish in vain. AS the years
lengthen which separate the living from the
time and manner of their death, there
grows, alas! a lessening sense of the merit
and value of their sacrifice. The prosper
GUS n happy OF to day are prone to forget
the lesson taught and the sentiment inspired
by their fall.
The influence of their modest heroism
lifted the dropping spirit of the over
borne, and the preservation of individual
manhood and self-respect, amidst a sec.
TONS overthrow, was largely due to the
force of their example and the courage II
bequeathed. They high-mettled the men
and women of their time. They warmed the
century In which they died. They trans.
mitted noble memories and inspiring emo
lions to a family of generations. Their
children, had they faltered, might have
groveled in the dust of conquest and humili
alton. To forget them is to forget and to
discredit ourselves.
The ladies of the association might conf.
IDENTIFY make a personal appeal to Individual
friends and well wishers for generous con.
trlbutions to aid them In rescuing from OBJ.
livion the N of these devoted men; but
the association only speaks as the earnest,
but humble organ of the dead. Through
those wounds which wasted their heroic lives
through the gap and breaks in their pros
perity and joy, there comes from the grave
q solemn voice that never can be stilled.
1t appeals to their mother, Georgia, upor
whose bosom they could not ever die, not
wholly to forget them now, but, out of hel
abundance and prosperity, to pay some little
tribute of affection, of generosity,
Of sacred obligation to their pool
remains. The memories that cluster
about their graves are among the noblesI
that dignity mankind. They rouse the dor
mant energies and vitalize the blood oil
States. Nations without them are without
a public soul, and a people that can forget
its heroes lacks the essential principle Of
healthy growth. VIII not the people of Sa,
vannah make some effort to rescue these
brave names from oblivion?
Even a small contribution from each yisi
tor to oar marked and honored lead will
readily secure the nucleus of a fund to des
ignate and honor those now Wondering In
a distant State.
Shall the mute appeal of these heroic
dead be addressed to your hearts and tc
your consciences in vainf
Death of j. Z. Hernandez.
The announcement Of the death of Mr.,
John Z. Hernandez, which occurred Satur-