Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-06-01
lueaI anb State NeinS.
Thursday, June l, 1882.
HoNoRs FOB HEROES.
Memorial Day 0bservances in Augusta
and its Environs.
Caves Of Fallen Comrades Strewn will
GarIands Of vernal Blossoms,
..-rouriate Tributes to the Departed from
Eloquent Orators.


Eloquent Orators.
Memorial Day was full of the freshness and
ao,v of Nav. The air was soft and balmy.
md redolent with the perfume of bursting
..ee.buds: all nature wore the emerald livery
If advanced springtime. The day ~as appro-
pristely observed in Augusta and environs.
Flags futtered at half mast over the city, and
hu,iuess was generally suspended. In the
forenoon the Post, under command of Senior
Vice Commander J. o. Webster, proceeded to
tho east side cemeteries and decorated the
graves there. The procession was formed on
Water street at two o'clock z. NJ, under COM
mand of DIR. G. W. Martin, Marshal of the
dsy, and started promptly on time, at 22O,
in the following order:
Marshal.
staff and Aids.
Augusta COrnet Band.
Capital Guards.
Seth Williams Post.
Carriages.
Although not SO large as on preceding
wears, the procession presented an imposing
appearance as it moved along the streets to
the cemeteries. The sidewalks were lined
with people. Arrived at the beautiful Forest
Grove cemetery the line halted, and me mbers
of the Post tenderly laid their chaplets on
the grassy mounds where fiuttering flags indi-
hat ,la
the graves in St. Mary's cemetery had also
beeH decorated, the line of march was re-
sumed and the column wound slowly up the
heights to Mt. Pleasant, from whose breezy
summit the landscape lay spread out below
like beautiful panorama. Here PRAYER was
offered BY Rev. A. c. White, and at the word
of command bouquet was deposited on each
Of the "nameless graves" This completed
the services in the cemeteries, and the pro-
eession was reformed and moved slowly
homeward.
The memorial exercises in Meonian Hall
in the evening attracted large audience.
Previous to the time of commencement, the
Augusta Band gave fine concert on the side
walk in front of the hall. Owing to the I'M
avodable absence of Hon. Lot M. Morrill,
the president of the day, Capt. S. w. Lane
ofRciated in that capacity. Rev. II. +. Mott
offered fervent prayer. A male quartette,
consisting of Messrs. Myrick. Ward, Chand-
Ter and Johnson, favored the audience with a
song, finely rendered. Hon. j. 0. Smith,
Secretary of State, was introduced, and de-
livered an able and fitting address, an abstract
Of which follows. At the close of the Grafton
the audience rendered America with a will
the united voices making that magnificent
hymn ring out grandly:
my country, tits of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
OF thee sing"
The benediction was pronounced by Rev.
r. Sanderson.
THE GRAFTON.
Mr.. President. Comrades, Ladies and Gen.
Hemen:
Fifteen years ago to-day, Decoration, or
Memorial day, was first observed in the cities
and towns where there were Grand Army
Posts, in obedience to the order of General
Logan, the first National Commander of the
order. Many predicted that the observance
would cease when the great civil war should
no longer be an event fresh in the popular
mind. How sadly these prophets mistook
the patriotic sentiment of the American peo-
pie. Year after year has the services found
such response in the popular heart that no
anniversary. concentrating the grandest
events IN the lives of nations, is so general
ly observed. The setting apart of this day
as legal holiday is a fitting AMI emphatic
recognition of the potency of this sentiment.
What do we mean by these exercises? Why
90 we pay homage to these departed heroes?
These are practical questions, but they are
not asked irreveraEtly or to detract one iota
from the beautiful and appropriate memorial
ceremonies and devotions of the day, nor to
call IN question in the slightest degree, the
motives of any; but the occasion affords
opportunity for thought and consultation, and
we do well to improve it. First we honor
Inc dead because of the ties of kindred and
friendship. Many here. doubtless, have kim
dred resting in the honored soldier graves Wis
neu to-day in the cemeteries of this city.
some may have fathers, some brothers, some
sons, some husbands. and all have friends.
doubtless before me are some OF those noble
VI itol " uon tHe wal W as Bio
ionged agony Of suspense. That agony and
suspense was a hundred-fold more unendura-
o'e than were our privations. Toyou, tonight,
come back the remembrances of those
terrible days, tediously prolonged into months
and years. You remember how you almost
dreaded the arrival of the mails, yet were
~verlshly anxious for their arrival. How
your hands trembled as you opened the daily
papers and eagerly devoured their contents.
lou realize again the agony between the re-
port OF bloody battles and the receiving OF
letters from loved ones.
Asw place garlands upon the graves OF
allen heroes and recall their valor and suffer-
ing. We pause to pay this heartfelt tribute to
'neir co-patriots and co-laborers the ''women
VI the war, and thank heaven for them. 1t
gives me great pleasure to greet, as represen-
nuves of that Spartan band, the Relief Corps
Seth Williams Post, lately organized. Our
mothers, wives. sisters and daughters are
banded together to aid us in the relief OF
needy soldiers, their widows and orphans, and
JON with US in the ceremonies Of this day.
we honor the dead because they
nerolcally went forth to battle. Courage is
sorshiped by many although it may be mere
physical or even border on the brutal
put true courage of soul, or heroism in a
Ignteoss cause. is worthy of any and every
.lioute. The soldiers of the late wal. especially
Mose who went from New England, were