Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-05-24

ox.H. n, AM, Issa

OMAHA, NEB., April IA, 1883.
General Order No. 49,
In compliance with the rules and regula-
lions Of the Grand Army Of the Republic,
Wednesday, May soth, win be observed As
Memorial Day.
The National Encampment adopted res
olution at its session At Baltimore, declar.
ing that this holy day should be called Me-
mortal and not Decoration Day.
earnestly request all ministers and
priests Of every denomination to deliver
appropriate sermons or lectures, calling At
tention to the duties Of the day-the sacri-
fees made and the lessons taught--on SUM-
day, May 9th.
thereby command Posts Of the Grand Ar
my Of the Republic to attend said services
in uniform. In cities and villages where 1t
will be practicable ! recommend union SER
vices.
recommend that the Grand Army take
especial steps to secure the presence and aid
OF the children and youth OF the country In
the ceremony Of strewing flowers, and 9TH
erwise 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 orphans OF
our dead heroes. Seek them out; distin-
guish them from all others, and teach them
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 Of the
Nation be invited to aid in this work. They
will toll with willing hands and grateful
hearts. Though others may have forgotten
the dead, the women never ceased to re-
member them and treasure in their pure
hearts their heroic services.
The marvellous growth OF the order
throughout the country will be new in
centive to us to see that no grave is neg
lected. l trust that every spot where SOL
der lies buried will be strewn with the
sweet flowers Of spring-time, and urge the
Posts Of the Grand Army TO take immediate
steps to remove every soldiers remains from
the Potter'sfield or pauper's burying ground
and RENTER them In Grand Army grounds.
We cannot perform this ceremony in the
proper manner unless we have done our du-
ty to the living and the dead.
with malice toward none and charity
for all,'' lie: US unite In this sacred duty.
Let the choicest, fairest aud 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, q
tear for the dead. Let the choicest gardens
be desolatod that the memory OF the Union
soldier may not 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 q cheerful sacrifice.
They died in the hospital on beds Of pain
before the flag was torn with shot and shell
on the battlefield in the fierce, maddening
charge on the picket line under the leaiy
trees close to the babbling brook in the
prison-pen when no plying voice was heard,
and no hand reached out TO save in the |
swamps, fleeing from a fate worse than |
death, and some went down in the mighty |
deep where the wild waves lash ceaselessly |
over their bones. Many sleep in graves
maj hCu uuhuo"hs but tuC ioNiuS hCoAt 70
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
to this noble work.
Comrades, a few short years fleeting
swiftly by, and our children will be called
that the lessons of Memorial Day will be
imprinted upon their hearts, and they will
willingly take up the work where our pal
sled have left it, and perpetuate for all time
to come the touching ceremony we have
inaugurated. BY command Of
PAUL VANDERvOORT,
COmmander-in-Chief
+. f. BROWN, Adjutant General.