The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-06-04

Memorial Day was observed in Somerset
after the usual manner, the services being
conducted by r. ?. Cummins Post 2l0 G..
A. II. The procession formed in front of the
Court House at 10 4. NJ, and proceeded to
the cemetery in the following order
Somerset Cornet Band.
Children OF the various Sunday Schools,
carrying flowers.
r. p. Cummins Post, G. \. r, carrying
flowers and evergreens.
At the cemetery. where large concourse
of citizens had gathered, the sad exercises
Of the G. A. r. were gone through with,
and after the graves of the Nations dead
were decorated, Comrade James l.. Pugh.
Of the home Post, delivered short but most
eloquent address Mr.. Pugh spoke as fol-
lows
Comrades and Feilor-cittseas We meet
again to-day, ION this, the sixteenth anniver-
sary of our Memorial day TO perform the
sad duty we owe to our fallen comrades,
10 strew the graves of our dead brethren
with flowers and wreaths This is a sacred
duty which the living owe to the dead. 1t
has been the custom among all nations, at
all times, to perpetuate the memory Of its
fallen heroes by keeping their graves green.
The ancients placed a sprig of acacia, or
evergreen upon the graves of the worthy
dead, to mark their last resting place. The
-Enied, that sublime old poem, makes An
chices say as he mourns over the grave of
Rome's last hope:
GiYe me lilies brought in heaping handfuls.
Let me scatter here dark purple flowers
These offerings at least to my descendants
shades | fain would pay,
Though now, alas, an unayailing rite.
The modern custom of decorating the
graves of our fallen soldiers, is said to haye
originated from a legend of the dark ages,
that girl stood by her lover in defense Of
her hamlet, and when he was slain, she
came every evening with garlands to deck
his grave one night while performing this
duty she died and was buried by his side,
and the word Liberty was inscribed on
her tombstone. 1t will be seen from this,
that the duty We are about TO perform is
closely connected with word that is dear
to every true American, especially the sol
dier, namely, Liberty Ii fills the heart
and mind at once with a love ofcountry and
pure patriotism. Give me Liberty, or
give nc death, - were the brave words of an
Old patriot.
The memories that gather around this
hour are pregnant with meaning, and full
of thought. The ground We stand upon is
sacred ground. Sacred to these dead, sacred
also to the living. 1t is time for medita-
ton and prayer, for memory and tears a
period when We can recall the hardships
and pleasures of a soldiers life. the long
and dreary forced march, the dIn of battle,
the roar of musketry, the thunder of can
non to hear the groans of the dying, to see
the mangled remains of the dead fallen in
battle, these are scenes which never can be
forgotten by the soldier.
Then, too, comes the enioyments Of camp
life. the yicissitudes thereto, the letters from
loved ones, these were real days of "A uld
Lang Svne.n 1t is an occasion when We
should remember that the cause for which
these soldiers died has not been in vain !;
that il was not lost, and that it is for US, the
living, TO bravery defend the principles for
which they gave their lives, and if needs be
lay down our own, that our country might
be free and independent 1t would be sad
page in the history of the Republic, should
it ever be written that America forgot her
defenders, either dead or living, page it is
to be hoped that will never be written,
Speak, History who are l.ile's yictors?
Unroll thy long annals and say,
Are they those whom the world call The
victors,
Who won the success Of . day
The Martyrs or Nero The Spar;aus
Who fell at Thermopvl@'s tryst,
Orthe Persiaus and Nerxes? His Judges
or Socrates Plate or Christi
To keep green the memory Of the dead, to
dry the widows tears, to hear the orphans
prayer, and to reward all the living tor a
noble work well done, is a solemn duty
which this government can never neglect or
refuse The saddest part Of our ceremony
remains yet to be done. There were thous-
ands of brave men who fell in the terrible
conflict of right over wrong, whose graves
are unmarked. The lost, the missing, the
unknown Their bones lie scattered On
every battlefield, bleaching in the hot south
ern sun, no kind hands to place memen-
toes on their graves. These can only be re
membered in Fraternity, Charity and
! Loyalty.
Let US then, my fellOw-comrades, strew
the graves with these beautiful flowers, pure
Nas the mountain air We breathe, bright as
/ the sun shining from Heaven, ON the glad
/ day when we received the welcome order
4 that the war was over, that our services
were no longer needed, that we coul / return
( to our homes, and in SO doing We do i work
that commends itself to him who said /
am the resurrection and the Life
/ DECORATION Al BERLIN.-neCoratl0n Day
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