Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-01
The Observance OF Decoration Day.

The Observance Of Decoration Day.
IN NORTH THETFoRD.
The day was not observed, there being only about
five or six soldier graves, which kind friends appro-
priately decorated. The people Of this place let
the day pass away as any other, excepting that
few went to Hanover and st. Johnsbury.
IN WEST RANDOLPH
Decoration day was appropriately observed by the
pupils of the graded school. Exercises were held
school escorted by the band decorated the graves
at the cemetery Exercises were also held at the
Center.
WEST ToPsHAM.
The day was observed here by repairing the
hedge around the cemetery. The ladies brought
in flowers and decorated nearly every grave in
the cemetery. There was quite heavy shower
about two o'clock which interfered with the
ceremony somewhat.
IN CHELSEA
Waterson Post observed Memorial Day with ap-
proprate exercises. On Sunday evening the
churches held union service in the Congrega-
tional house, Rev. II. Webster, formerly chap
lain OF the Sixth Vermont Volunteers, preaching
sermon appropriate to the occasion Monday
morning details Of the post visited the cemeteries
on the east and west hills and decorated the
graves there. A collation. was served at the town
hall at half-past eleven, and at one clock p. NJ
procession was formed, which visited the two viii
lage cemeteries where appropriate memorial ex-
ercises were held, after which an address was de-
livered at the south common by Rev. William H.
Davis. An interesting feature Of the procession
was carriage containing thirteen young ladies,
representing the thirteen original states The
Chelsea cornet band furnished the music.
IN RICHMOND.
There Is in this village a society composed of
young misses of from nine % fou.tvou years OF
age, known as the Apple Blossoms" organized
for the purpose of adding their mite toward allie
waiting the suiferings of the needy and destitute.
The ceremony of decorating soldiers graves on
Memorial Day has not been observed here but
this year these plucky young ladies conceived the
idea of performing this simple tribute for the
martyred dead. The plan was not concocted I'M
til Monday morning, and collecting all the flowers
possible they arranged them into wreaths bou-
quets, etc. Hon. f. d. Mason kindly consented to
act as escort, and loading their fragrant burden
and six OF the young misses into his farm wagon
he drove them to both cemeteries where they dec
GRATED the following graves Soldiers OF the revo-
luton-Captain Phineas Sawyer, Deacon Cook,
Daniel Robbins and +. Tomlinspn; war of 1872
Captain Stephen Manuel, Captain A. Smith, Cap
tain Nathan Fay Captain A. Flagg, B. Tomlinson,
X. Mason, T.. Bates, J. Green, s. Jewell, Charles
Huntington, William Rhodes, William Humphrey,
Ell Brownson, S. Wright, J. Thompson, J. IIig-
ley, f. Barber, Major Henry Fay, Gilbert Brown
son, Rev. Thomas Browning, Isaac Andrews, Da-
vid Blossom and 1haddeus Hall the rebellion
Henry Russell. Sullivan Ssger, George Allen.
Everett Green, Samuel Conant and Sylvester
Straw. BY 50 doing they have set an example to
the worthy villagers that might well be initiated
In the hereafter, in grateful remembrance of
those who died for me and YOU for II our
southern friends honor the "gray" by bringing
floral offerings in memory of those who fought
against the flag, how much more should we re-
member those who wore the "blue." The ZAP
pie Blossoms" finished their work by strewing
the grave OF one of their dead sisters-daughter
OF a deceased soldier-with blossoms and hanging
beautiful wreath upon the tombstone.
IN WORCESTER.
Hall Post at ten o'clock, A. NJ. decorated the
graves Of soldiers in Putnamsville cemetery. At
haf-past in the afternoon the exercises at the
church began. After singing and prayer, Mr..
John G. Wing OF Montpelier delivered the Grafton,
which WAS listened to with close attention. and of
which the following is an abstract; "Simonides,
the Greek poet, placed upon the rocks OF Their
mopyla, just over the spot where the Spartan
heroes fell, these words, Go tell 1t unto Lace
demonia that we died in obedience to her laws
The Spartans were accustomed to sacrifice all
things for their beloved country, and believe, II
history is correct that Leondas and his three hun
dred brave men were the first TO sacrifice their
lives for Spartan liberty. But how small is the
Spartan sacrifice to that sacrifice made for our
beloved country which called for the lives OF four
hundred thousand OF our bravest and best boys,
and millions OF treasure The sacrifice was great,
but the cause was greater 1t is to keep ever
fresh in remembrance the memory OF brave and
patriotic men who yielded up their lives that the
nation might live, and that the institutions of
our country might be transmitted unimpaired TO
succeeding generations. It Is in memory OF those
men that we have come together to-day and that
we strew upon the lowly mounds tributes OF our
love in the shape OF garlands OF choicest flowers,
and have come to-day, bringing my tribute of
flowers and to drop tear upon their graves, re-
membering that it was done for me and YOU
The sCath, flushed with a continual
success, laid her mpious hands upon the bonds of
our federal Union and sought To tear them asun-
der. At this time there was In the presiden
chair one who was weak, nervous, and vacilla,ing,
but soon the reins OF government dropped from
the weak, nerveess hand of James buchanan
into the hands of that noble patriot and states
man, Abraham Lincoln, who, apprehending the