The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-05-18

Comrades and fellow citizens, please read
and consider the following order commu-
nicated to us by the commandment
chief Of the G. A. II. Let us follow the
written suggestions, and make the 9th
and Both days of May ones to be long re.
membered, and let no soldiers grave be
neglected.
g. A. PARKER. Pres.
], d. JEWELL, Sec.
In compliance with the rules and regu
lations OF the Grand Army of the Repub
lie, Wednesday, May Both, will be Observ
ed as Memorial Day. The National En-
campment adopted resolution at its SEES
sion at Baltimore. declaring that this holy
day should be called Memorial and not
Decoration Day. earnestly request all
ministers and priests of every denomina-
ton to deliver appropriate sermons or lee
lures, calling attention to the duties of day
the sacrifices made and the lessons
taught-on Sunday, May 9th. l hereby
command Posts of the Grand Army of
the Republic to attend said services in uni
form. In cities and Villages where it will
be practical, recommend union services.
/ recommend that the Grand Army take
aid of the children and youth of the land
in the ceremony of strewing flowers, and
otherwise honoring the dead, and TO that
end hope that all public and private
schools, colleges and academies will be
closed. Let the hand of fraternity and
charity be extended to the widows and
Ophans of our dead heroes. Seek them
out; distinguish them from all others
and teach that on this day the Grand
Army mourns with them the loss of the
precious ones whom they gave to save the
nation. | recommend that the loyal
women o. the nation be invited to this
work They will toit with willing hands
and grateful hearts Though others may
have forgotten the dead, the women have
never ceased to remember them and treas
,lre in their pure hearts their heroic servi-
ces. The marvellous growth of the order
throughout the country will be a new in
centivc to us to see that no grave is neg
lected. trust every spot where SOL
dier lies buried will be strewn with the
sweet flowers of spring time, and urge
Posts of the Grand Army to take immedi-
ate steps to remove every soldiers remains
from Potters field or paupers' burying
ground and renter them in Grand Army
grounds. We cannot perform this cere-
mony in the proper manner unless we
have done our duty to the living and the
dead. with malice toward none and
charity for all, " let us unite in this sacred
duty. Let the choicest fairest and most
fragrant flowers be culled, and the soft
white hands of the loyal women of the
land entwine the wreath and fashion the
cross and crown, dropping here and there
like the dew, tear for the dead Let
the choicest gardens be desolated that the
memory of the Union soldier may not
wither. We will lift once more the cur
lain 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 maddenning charge
on the picket line under the leafy trees
close TO the babbling brook: in the prison
pen where no plying voice was heard,
and no hand reached out to save; in the
swamps. hdeing from fate worse than
death, and some went down in the mighty
deep where the wild waves lash ceaseless-
Nv over their bones. Many sleep in graves
marked unknown" but the loving hearts
and eager hands of q grateful people will
cast flowers upon the soft green sward
that covers their dust. Let the gates Of
all the cemeteries in the land open wide
and their guardians render all the aid in
their power in this noble work Com
rades. few short years fleeing swiftly
by, and our children will be called upon
TO perform this duty. Let us SO live that
the lesson of Memorial Day will he i'm
printed upon their hearts, and they will
willingly take up the work where palsied
hands have left II, and perpetuate for all
time to come the touching ceremony we
have inaugurated. PAUL VAxDERvooRT.
Commander in.chef.
+. Il. BRowN,
Acknowledgement.