The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-05-18


Grand Army. Il should be read by every
one who would cherish the memory of our
defenders, and is of especial interest to
every comrade and veteran soldier.
HEADQUARTERS
GRAND ARMY or THE REPUBLIC,
GENERAL ORDER, No. 10.
OMAHA, NEB. April 14th, 1888.
!. In compliance with the Rules and Reg
uiations of the Grand Army of the Republic,
Wednesday, May Both will be observed as
Memorial Day.
The National Encampmenta adopted a reso-
luton at its session in Baltimore declaring
that this holy day should be called Memorial
and not Decoration Day.
p earnestly request all ministers and
priests of every denomination to deliver ap-
propriate sermons or lectures, calling atten-
ton to the duties OF the day-the sacrifices
made and tho lessons taught-on Sunday,
May 21th. l hereby command Posts of the
Grand Army OF the Republic TO attend said
services, III uniform. In cities and villages
where il will be practicable, / recommend
union services.
3. recommend that the Grand Army
take especial steps to secure the presence and
aid of the children and youth of the country i'll
the ceremony Of strewing flowers, and other
wise honoring the Dead and to that end /
hope that all public and private schools col
leges and academies will be closed.
4. Let the hand OF Fraternity and Charity
be extended 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 mourns with them
tho loss of the precious ones whom they gave
to save the nation.
>. recommend that the loyal women of
the nation be invited to aid i'll this work.
They will toll with willing 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.
6. The marvellous growth of the order
throughout the country will be new incen-
tive 10 Us to see that no grave is neglected.
l trust every spot where a soldier 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's field
or paupers' burying ground and re-inter
them in Grand Army grounds. We cannot
perform this ceremony in the proper manner
unless we have done our duty to the living
and the dead.
z. "With Malice towards none and Charity
for all, let US unite III this sacred duty. Let
the choicest, fairest and most fragrant flow
ers 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 dew, tear for the dead. Let the
choicest gardens be desolated that the mem
ory of the Union soldier may not wither.
We lift once more the curtain that hides the
dark past, and see our fallen martyrs die for
liberty. They gave their lives n 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 trees close to the babbling brook;
in the prison pen where no pitying voice was
heard, and no hand reached out TO save; in
the swamps, fleeing from 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
marked unknown, but loving hearts and ca
ger hands of a grateful people will cast flow
ers upon the 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.
Comrades, few short years feetiDg swiftly
by, and our children will be called upon TO
perform this duty. Let us so live that the
lessons of memorial day will be imprinted
upon their hearts, and they will willingly
take up the work where our palsied hands
have left it, and perpetuate for all time To
come the touching ceremony we have inauQ-
urated. BY command of
PAUL VANDERvooRT,
+. l.. BROWN, Commander-in-Chief
Adjutant General.