The Portland daily press., 1883-04-26
Memorial Day.
Memorial Day.
The Department Commander has issued tn
ORDER

The Department Commander has issued the
following order:
HEADo'TR DEPT. or MAINE. G. Ar.
ASST. ADJ. GEMS OFFICE,
Lewiston, Me-, April 20, 1888.
General Order No. 8.
|. Chap. ", Art. XIV, OF the rules and
regulations II the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, provides that "the national encampment
hereby establishes Memorial Day, TO be OBJ
served by the members of the Grand Army OF
the Republic on the 30th day OF May, Annually,
in commemoration OF the deeds OF our fellow
comrades
II. In accordance with this regulation, the
proper observance OF which is not onlyIthe duty
but the sad pleasure of all members OF the
Grand Army, as we'll as all loyal citizens,
"Wednesday, May 80. 1888, will be observed by
the Posts of this Department In an appropriate
manner. Let the last resting place OF every
one of our comrades be visited. Cover their
honored graves with the choicest flowers. Dec
crate the monuments, the marble head stones,
and the lowly grave OF those who fell that the
nation might live. Place the flag of our coun-
try above the last resting place of every true
soldier of the Republic, who freely gave his
life to preserve It,
Ill. Wherever IL Is practicable, il is earn
estly desired that there be an Grafton, under
the auspices OF the Posts 1t is earnestly rec
commended that on tine Sabbath preceding Me-
mortal Day the Posts in this Department make
arrangements for Memorial sermon and that
each post attend the sermon In body.
Nv. Comrades, let as unite in observing
this day with all the soemnities which proper
ly belong TO it. II is the province Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic to teach the lessons OF
the day to our children and TO succeeding gem
erations. To this end / earnestly request all
good citizens, all civil and military organize
lions, and more especially our children, our
schools and the new order Of the Sons OF Veter-
ans, our Ladies' Relief Corps, and all who love
our country, to unite with us in decorating the
graves OF our fallen heroes, in listening to the
inspiration OF the hour. as 1t shall ascend from
every altar, home, and hilltop all over our
broad land.
VII is the especial duty of the Grand
Army Of the Republic to provide for all Of
these solemnities. Where no Posts exists ii ia
hoped that soldiers, aided by all loyal men and
women, will make provisions 10 carry out the
spirit Of this order.
Wat the first regular meeting of every
Post after Memorial Day, Post Committees
will have prepared and forward, at once, to
these Headquarters the following Information
as required by Resolutions passed Of the an
naal meeting OF this Department, WIRE
port, Manner OF Observance, Grafton, Parade,
Cooperation OF Clergymen, Citizens, Munici-
pal Authorities, Military, aud all other organi-
cations, the number OF names on Soldiers
Monuments that are decorated, the Soldier
being buried elsewhere, Amount OF Money
Expended, Amount Of Money Collected from
&AuhtNipAt hutuokiticct 0ltiLtuas 0OuFaarHt
and advanced from Post Funds, and all such
is absolutely required from every Post in this
Department.
Tue necessary blanks for this report will be
sent 70 every Poat. One copy viii be sent TO
these Headquarters, the other will be placed
son file with the Post papers.
The Depart neut Commander avaiis himself
of this opportunity OF expressing his obliga-
tons 10 the press OF our State for the extended
notices made hitherto OF the growth and sue
cess OF the Graud Army Of this Republic, and
kindly requests that every newspaper in our
State publish this order.
BY command of ELIJAH NJ. SHAW,
Department Commander.
ID. HORACE HOLMAN,
Assistant AGiutant General.