The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-05-25
GEsrRAi.' oRDEns.} II
GI
No. 9. lp'
PhilaiIeiphta, May 6, lsS.

MO-. putic'|NSo;; @ loSi shesthu'
a.. '-- Philadelphia, May 6. 1882.
,CoMsApRs: Tuesday, Af&y L40tt, will be OBJ
Servsd as our Annual Mshtifial DaY. when
you wiifs go out To The, graves OF our forty
thousand fellow-soidIeaa5 wb9f silently biv.
ouac Within the eardsFsaafa' 'sp psylyauia, and
decorate them with h,e inss,as sowers OF the
spring time. 2%.itxEs ".,.e -;
In more than a thousand!barisl grounds In
our State; In the crowdedrstA etery of the city.
In the quiet graveyard df tise NAlaRe. In she
rs'sade of the valley, iszttey yspeshtpe on the
hillside; ;,rest our s1iafef2 deaa brought from
. the neds oftheirglsfy sShsre they ell 10 the
battles storm. or who. stricken With wounds
0s wasted vfth dtses " IN nle back fro'if their
canpaigns to be mustered OUT aud TO sleep
their last sleep amidst. the scenes Of their
ch! ldliood' among kindred and friends.
Remit entirely the cares and lsbors Of life
for the day, and devote Y 10 our heautiful aud
impressive emorstiSeeereinonies
Diligently seek out every eomrsdes grave
In our State, however humble. however Se-
cluded; lay upon It the iansel and rose plan
above It the nag for " bosch ohof he died now
the standard OF Nation, ,nnited and prosper.
ours. IL is but simple ast, bat tbs spirit that
No elaborate mef,umsps no .bpnIe tablet
records the heroic desdaths patriotic services.
the unselfsh sacrifices -0f those. at whose
graves We pay our noral tribute. But. COM
rades. as you stand beside these passionless
mounds there win arseexlSid memories OF
the ardent, brave, eodraaaous,' genial and
generous ones who lie bsAshth them.
To them life was dessJ tAe. ties Of home
Sad . hA 49, "a. Gatn hri0 bat
moved BY the purest paJI ism they Xolun-
tarily rslinquis ali' for their country Is
cause. realizing we'll herhardships TO be en-
dured, the perils to be encountered, the pros
poets OF life thst would bs blasted.
Andyet these, whose graves we shall decor.
ate are but . few Of the mighty hosts OF the
fallen. Legions rest upon the war fields OF
tho South, in the glades of the forest, by the
stream along which they fought, on the hill
which they bled and the sun on our Memoir
ial Days will set upon. their graves, un-
watched and undecorsted. save by the Wild
wood flowers and untraiued vine.
In a milion dcsolate homes. North and
South there are grief and mourning for the
volunteer who came not back from tho bat
tie. with the nag under whose folds he
marched away Ia the pride and strength OF
vigorous and hopeful youth.
The services OF Decoration Day are not.
then TO vain display. but. have higher and
nobler purpose, lp repiaiing ~ Of THE price
less ransom Raid for ths.Iftekrityof our Re
public and Its inssltnfiSgse w
May all our people y pafFtss sipsts Id me beau
tlfpi ceremonies. May the young; especially,
be Impressed with their neanl0g Rpd .signlff:
canoe May we, moved by the sad memories
swaksned. return to our homes at the close
ofthe day thrilled with apurer patriotism In
cited 70 a truer, devotion 10 our coun tiy, and
with q frmer determination that ours shall
be, the most perfect government OF the
people. for the people," and that our, warrior
dead shall not have died in vain.e. : .
BY COMMAND OF }. NJ, vANDERsLIcE.
Department Commanter.
80, THos. ]. STEWART :.
;, Assistant Adjut&ht GeneraI.