Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-05-11
MEMORIAL DAY.
General Order Of the COmmander-in
chief Of the Grand Army.


HEADQUARTERS GRAND Army OF THE REPupLicI
OMAHA, Neb., April lAth, 1888. !
GENERAL oRDEn, No. 10.
1. In compliance with the rules and regulations Of
the Grand Army Of the Republic, Wednesday, May 80,
will be observed as Memorial Day.
The national enCampment adopted a resolution at
its session at Baltimore, declaring that this holy day
should be called Memorial and not Decoration Day
2. earnestly request all ministers and priests Of
every denomination to deliver appropriate sermons
lectures, calling attention TO the duties Of the day
day, May ~ hereby command posts Of the Grand
Army Of the Republic TO attend said services in uni
form. In cities and villages where II will be pracca
Bile, recommend union services.
8. | recommend that the Grand Army take especial
steps to secure the presence and aid Of the children
and youth CT the country In the ceremony Of
strewing flowers aud otherwise honoring the dead,
aud to that end hope that all public and private
schools, colleges and academies will be closed.
L. Let the hand Of fraternity and charity be e1toud-
ed to the widows and orphans Of our dead heroes.
Seek them out distinguish them from all Others and
teach them that on this day the Grand Army mOurnB
with them the loss Of the precious ones whom they
gave TO save the nation.
8. / recommend that the loyal women Of the nation
be invited to aid in this work. They will toll with
willing hands aud grateful hearts. Though others
may have forgotten the dead, the women have never
ceased to remember them and treasure in their pure
hearts their heroic services.
G, The marvellous growth OF the order throughout
the country will be new incentive to us TO see that
no grave is neglected. trust every spot where sol
der lies buried will be srewn with the sweet flowers
Of sprngtime, aud urge the posts Of the Grand Army
mains from the Potters field paupers burial ground
and ro-inter them in Grand Army grounds. We can
not perform this ceremony in proper manner unless
we have done our duty to the living aud the dead.
Z. "Wth malice toward none aud charity for all, -
let us unite In this sacred duty. Let the choicest
farcst aud most fragrant flowers be culled, and the
soft white hands Of tue loyal women Of the land en-
twinc the wreath aud fashion the cross and crown,
dropping here and there like the dew, tear for the
dead Let the choicest gardens be desoated that the
memory Of the Union soldier may not withCr We
will lift more the curtain that hides the dark
past and our fallen martyrs die for liberty They
gave their lives cheerful sacrifice. They died in the
hospital bed OF pain before the flag was torn with
shot and shell on the battlefield, in the nercc mad
dening charge; on the picket line under the leafy
trees, close to the babblng brook IN tho prs0n-peu
where no plying voice was heard and hand reach
ed out to save; in the swamps, fleeing from a fate
worse than death: aud some went down in the mighty
deep where the wild waves lash ceaseossly their
bones. Many sleep In graves marked "UnknOwn,
bnt the loving hearts and eager hands Of 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 ali
the aid IN their power IN this noble work.
Comrades, few short years heeing swiftly by, and
our children will be called upon to perform this duty
Let live that the lessons Of Memorial Day will
be imprinted upon their hearts, aad they will willing
ly take up the work where palscd hands have lett
1t, and pcrpeuate for all time to come the touching
ceremony we have naugurated.
by command Of
PAUL YANDERYOOBT.
Commsnder-u-Chef
+. 4. BRowS, Adjutant General.