Connecticut western news., 1883-06-06
MemOral Day in Canaan.

The bugle call sounded. North Ga naan wheeled into line and marched shoulder to shoulder with other patri- otic towns, who annually devote this day to perpetuate the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for their country, to recount the sacrifice they made for us, to decorate their graves and to impress upon the minds of the rising generation that our nations life, her institutions, and all the privileges and blessings of liberty which we enjoy, were purchased for us with the kfe blood of these martyr patriots, and by the toll, suffering, privation, sacrifice and hardship endured by the veterans who survive. Many of these veterans appear with health ruined, their consti- tuition undermined, some with an empty sleeve, others with only one limb, and all more or less battle scared or dis abled. It is fitting that Memorial day should be properly observed. North Canaan has arisen to realizing sense o1 her duty, and it is with 8 feeling of satisfaction, mingled with more or less of pride that we chronicle the fact that this day was observed by her citizens, and they pledged themselves that in coming years Memorial day shall wit ness such an assembling of her citizens to honor the soldiers memory, compar. ed with which the gathering of 1888 will be only a fraction.
 The exercises were conducted by David s Cow1es post No 60 c A R. the citizens cooperating with them Twenty three members of the post were present. Their new uniforms looked very neat and appropriate. The Post assembled at Town hall at 9:30 A NJ, an6 were in secret session for short time A little after 10 o'clock they met at Vii lage Improvement hall. The post occu pied the stage. Rev B H Royce, ReV David Phillips and MT David Whittle sey nephew of the late Col Cowles al so occupied seats on the stage. The citi zens and scholars from the High schoo quickly filled the hall The op ening exercises were conduct ed by the post and were very impress i've the whole audience joining in tn singing. Rev Phillips and Royce mad eloquent and appropriate addresses MT Whittlesey made very able addres and thanked the Post in behalf of tn Cowles family for the honor conferred on Col Cowles and his relatives, in nam ing the Post after Col Cowles. MT D Pierce made splendid address ant voiced the patriotic sentiment of tn citizens. Short and appropriate speech es were made by Adiutant B S Roberts s Commander, A P Briggs, MT D l. Free man, Mir Horace Stevens, MT s c Beck ley, MT George B Taft, MT s A Eddy MT P c Cummings and MT J B Reed.
 In front of the stage was large pho tograph of Col Cowles. On tabl
 covered with the old flag, was an ope
 bible resting on two swords crossed
 One of these was the sword which wa
 carried by Col Cowles in the army.
 A procession was formed of citizen and scholars of the high school and prt ceeded by the' Post, they visited tn
 lower cemetery and decorated the grave
 of the four soldiers buried there. The returned to the hall, where refresl : ments were served to the, Post, wh , thanked the ladies, for providing th
 same and gave them three rousin cheers and tiger.
 , In the afternoon the Post visited u cemeteries at Ashley Falls, Claytol Canaan Valley and East Canaan, an 7 decorated the graves of fallen comrade An abundance of flowers were furnisl
 ed at the respective villages, and u
 citizens joined with the Post in payir honor to the soldier dead. We inten ) ed to give the name, rank and regime of each member of the Post, also nam of soldiers, regiment, etc, whose gray
 were decorated, but lack of space wi , cause us to omit them until next wee : Twenty-eight graves were decorate
 Thirteen graves need headstones.