The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-06-06
Memorial Day in Middlebury.

MluulcDuTy UnlS wear were lnOG6 cldD-
crate and generally satisfactory, we be-
lieve, than a year ago; and then it was
said the day had never before been so
well observed here. The morning was
rather too cool for comfort, but the sun
soon came out, so that the weather was
all that could have been desired.
The procession formed in front of the
Addison House at 9 O'Clock. 1t was
made up in this order: Middlebury
Brass band, Is pieces, Herbert Smith,
drum major; knights Templar, Thad
NJ. Chapman, commander; knights of
Honor, James E. Stapleton, die
tator; Veterans, 26 in number; drum
corps; Needham Post, G.. A. r., of
East Middlebury, Ii. d. Maynard conn
mander; two carriages with thirty
young girls bearing the flowers; car
riages with soldiers widows; carriage
containing the president of the day,
orator and clergy; citizens on foot and
citizens in carriages. Col. l.. f. Knapp
was the marshal and Capt. W. e.
Dewey, assistant marshal. AT the
Graded school the children joined the
procession, which was the longest ever
seen OH a similar occasion in Middle
bury. On reaching the center of the
cemetery the escort opened and let the
veterans, the post and the school child
rem pass through. A hollow square was
formed about the graves of Isaac n.
Collins and Joel j. Morrison, jr. With
in the square were the president of the
day, the orator, the clergy, the soldiers
widows and the children with the flow
ers. The band played dirge and Rev.
j. j. Noe, pastor of the Methodist
church, offered prayer, after which the
graves were decorated by the children.
Geo. Pinney directed the decoration of
those in the south part of the ground,
Page G.. Potter those in the north, and
Geo. McCue the four in the Catholic
ground near by. The procession then
reformed and marched to the town
hall, where the Grafton was delivered
AT the hall the stage was occupied by
the officers of the day, the clergy, the
soldiers widows and choir of about
so voices, under the lead of NJ. A. Num-
roe. After a selection had been rem
dered by the band, Rev. S. l.. b.
Speare, pastor of the Congregational
church, offered prayer. The choir sang
"My Country, it's of Thee" This was
followed by recitation by Miss Lena
Tracy of VIII Cartons poem, "Cover
Them over with Beautiful Flowers"
which was excelently done. Then
came "The StarSpangled Banner" by
the choir. The orator, +. Redfield
Kendall of Rutland, was fittingly ill.,
troduced by the president OF the day,
Col. Tracy, and was received with APP
pause. The following is an abstract
of
THE GRAFTON.
The speaker referred, in opening, TO the
wide observance of the day, When we dec
crate our soldiers graves we remember
that upon soldiers graves far and near are
laid tributes fragment with memories of
the loyal and true, who loved their country
better than life. Now that twenty years
have passed since the decisive battles of the
war; this universal observance is significant.
Many illustrous men then living have died
and been forgotten. Another generation
has grown up. Now that foes are forgiven
and the rancOr of the struggle Is forgot
ten, it is indeed cheering and hopeful that
there is that of it that never will grow dim
the manhood. In these days of doubt it
Is refreshing to place our feet on the firm
ground of history. Here perchance in the
. proper study of mankind" we may take
courage and inspiration from recollection
OF the days W hen patriotism warmed the
blood and made strong the arm, when the
manhood of the nation was brought to the
test and found equal to it when the ma
honal conscience, thoroughly aroused made
a record of faithful and consistent honesty.
of adherence to right for rights sake that
wrought out the salvation of this country;
When under the influence of grand enthu
siasm young boys suddenly became men
and old men were suddenly almost boys
again, and together shouldered the musket
TO march under the flag 1t is in this sense.
and this sense only, that we may say the
war was worth all it cost 1t was a war of
conscience against wrong. of honor against
dlshonor.of manhood against weakness and
lnhumanity. AS an era of the deyelop-
ment of our national character we do we'll
10 study IT, He mentioned the early legis-
iahon of this State against property in hu-
man beings, the orators and statesmen
who prepared the way for the putting down
of slavery by their speeches in Congress
and elsewhere, the immense number of
Soldiers furnished by the nation. the
large sums OF money, and Seward, Col
lamer aud other organizers. The events of
May. 1864, were reviewed and the part tax
en- by the Vermont brigade stated. OF the
"a 23S men that our State sent TO the war,
nearly ten thousand died or were wounded,
large proportion of whom fell in the cam
paiRn Of 1864. But after all this State did
but her share. Like the Others her exist
ence depended upon the preservation of
the Union. 1t is praise enough to say that
what this State gave she gave willingly.
Our dead heros are but "A part of that
grand array of the nations dead, all of
"Hoh We uellBnt 10 nOnOf. IN these ser
vices were particularly remember those
that rest in unknown graves These ser
yices,originally extending only to the graves
OF those who fell in the late war, now in
clude those of the revolution and the war
of 1872 But the great foundation princi-
pies fought for in each of these wars were
the same. Such memorials are imperfect,
however. unless they commemorate
all the suffering. How much the noble
mothers, wives and sisters suffered
can never adequately be told. Through
these twenty years the fond love of com
rades untimely cut off sadly returns to-day.
The manly form of Edward Parker, rising
almost like that of a Saul above the heads
of others, comes before us. and his thrilling
bravery gives but slight comfort for the
dreadful fate he met. Henry Bennett.
John Converse, Henry Eaton and many
others come sadly passing in review before
our minds to-day. The speaker mentioned
with approval the work of the Grand Army.