, 1883-05-12

HaR's GRAND Army RErrsuc.
OMAHA. Neh., April Il. 1883.
Gensral Orden No 10.
l. In eonpliaaoe With the ral-s aad r-gl-
latioas Of The Grasd Army Of the Rerab'i.,
Wsasssaay. Nay 30sh xill he observed IS
Aenoe,al Day.
The Na6oaa Esesmpment adopted res
oautioa u ID scs.ioa ar Baltimore declaring
that ths holy day should be called Memorial
and not Decoeafioa Day.
2 l earnestly request all ministers and
prests Of every denomination 10 deliver
appropsiase sermons or lectures, calling atteu-
ton 10 the duties Of the day-the slc,itiees
made and the lessons taught, on SUNDAY.
May 2. l hereby command Posts of the
Grsnd Army Of the Republic to attend said
services in uniform. In cities AMI villages
where it viii he practicable, l recommend
union services
l recommend that the Grand Army take
espscial steps 10 secure the presence and aii
OF the children and youth of the country in
the ceremony of strewing flowers. and other
wise honoring the dead, sud TO that end
hope thst all public and private schools. coli
leges and academies will be closed.
4. Let the hand of fraternity and charity
be extended to the widows and orphans #
our dead heroes. Seek them on. .iist:n-
guish them from all others, and teach them
that on this day the Grand Army mourns
with them the loss OF the precious opes whom
they gave to awe the nation
5. recommend that the loyal women OF
the nation be invited to all in this work.
They will toil with wiling hands and CRATE
full hearts Though others may have forgot
ten the dead. the women have never ceased
TO remember them and treasure in their pure
hearts their heroic services.
d. The marvellous growth OF the orisr
throughout the country will be Few iucen-
tive to US to see that no grave Is neglected.
trust every spot where soldier lies buried
will be strewn With the sweet flowers az
spring time, and urge the Posts OF the G,and
Army to tale immediate steps to remove
every soldiers remains from the Potter's
field or pauper's buryius ground ami RENTER
them in Grand Army grounds. We cannot
perform this Ceremony IN the proper manner
unless we haze done our duty TO the liy.n.
and the dead
:. "With malice towards none and charity
for all" let us unite in this sacred auty
Let the choicest, iairest ami most fragrant
flowers be culled, and the soft white hands
Of the loyal women of the land enswine the
wreathe and fashion the cross snd crown,
dropping here and there, like the dew,
tear for the dead. Let tie ch licest gardens
be desolate1 that tae memory OF the Union
soldier may Bot wither. We will lift once
more the curtain that hides the dark past.
and see our fallen martyrs die for liberty.
They gave their lives cheerful sacrifice.
They died in the hospital on beds of pain
before the flag Was torn with shot and shell;
on the battle field in the fierce maddening
charge; on the picket line under the leafy
tree, close to the babbling brook; in the
prison pen where no p,tyiug Voice was heard
and no hand reached cut to save in the
swamps. fleeing from fate worse than
death, and some went down in the mighty
deep where the Mid waves lash csaselessly
over their bones. Many sleep IN graves
marked unknown, hu, the loving hearts and
eager hands Of grateful people will cast
hands upon the sof, green sward that covers
their dust Let the gates of all the ceme-
teries in the land open Vide and their guar
dlsns render all the all in their power IN
this noble work.
Comrades, = iex short years heeting
swiftly by. and our children will be called
upon to perform this duty. 1t US 80 ike
that the lessons Of memorial day will be i'm
printed upon their hearts. and they will
willingly take up the WORK where our pal
sled hands have lett it. and perpetrste for
all time to come the ,ouching ceremony We
have inangursted. by command OF
PAIL VASDrRvoogr,
Commander in I hlef.
r r ErowS- Adiutant General