St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-06-04
OUR FALLEN HEROES.
Memorial Day Observances
IN ST. JoHNsBURY AND VICINITY.

made the day memorable and disagree
able last year. This time the temper
allure was warm but not excessively so,
and the rain which threatened all day,
kindly held Off-save "A slight sprinkle
at nOOn-until evening, coming down
quite smartly just as the concert-gOers
were coming out of Music hall at the
close of the entertainment.
People from surrounding towns and
villages began to arrive on the morning
trains, and while there might not have
been as many visitors as on some form
er years, yet there was a large con
course of people on the street when the
procession started, soon after 30 p. M,
the hour announced. Major n. p. Bow
man discharged his duties AS chief
marshal effectively. and was ably aid
ed by w. G. Tyler, G.. III. Horton and
w. II. Sargent, who led the three di-
visions of the procession. In the first
division were the st. JOhnsbury band,
Palestine cOmmandery Knights Tenn
plars, who made fine appearance in
their handsome regalia, and the st.
JOhnsbury Guard. Next came the
drum corps, Chamberlin post, @. A. r.,
and disabled veterans in carriages. In
the third division were the boys from
the three upper classes in the acade-
my, who deserve great credit not only
for turning out in SD full numbers, but
for their skillful manRuvering us well.
They had carefully drilled for several
days, and appeared exceedingly well,
constituting the most important part
of the procession. The Seniors were
commanded by c.. p. Andersen, the
Middlers by G.. w. Kyburg and the
Juniors by w. II. Puffer. The Seniors
wore rosettes of red, white and blue
ribbon, and the Juniors wore cardinal,
while the Middlers rather OutshOne the
others by carrying canes-in place of
muskets-with their class cOlOrs of
golden brown fastened to them, besides
wearing rOsettes of blue. At the rear
of the procession came carriages with
the president and orator of the day,
reader of the roll of honor, Judge Ross,
clergy, selectmen, village trustees,
academy teachers and other dignitaries.
The line moved up Main and Mt.
Pleasant streets directly to the ceme-
terry, where the graves were decorated,
the band playing dead march. The
column then returned through Summer,
Church and Main streets to the monu-
ment, where the usual brief @. A. K.
memorial service was held and the
monument, which had already been
decorated with bunting, was decked
with flowers. Next came the
EXERCISES AT THE HALL.
The Memorial day Grafton was given
this year in Music hall instead of in
the open air, and the large capacity of
the hall was well tested 10y the audi
ence that assembled. The galleries
were festOOned with bunting, fastened
by wreaths of evergreen. An ever
green star hung above the platform,
while on either side of the platform
was Il stand of flowers, with II floral
cross on the front of the speakers desk.
The band opened the exercises by
playing "Hail Columbia" america"
and yankee Doodle" Prayer was
offered by Rev. @. w. Jenkins of the
UniversaIist church. The cOngrega-
ton were then invited to sing Gamer
lea" while the band played it. The
band played the tune through twice
successfully, but the audience didn't
seem to know where they were eX-
pected to join in, and only IA few strug
Cling voices could be heard. Next
came the reading of the roll of honor
by Marshall Montgomery, Esq, who
took occasion to express his opinion
that there was special call for bring
ing the roll of our soldiers to memory
afresh, at this time when Union
soldiers were being removed from Of
flee to make place for those who fought
against the government. He read the
roll of the 80 names on the monument,
besides three others which it has since
been found are entitled to appear there.
Col. Franklin Fairbanks as president
Of the day introduced the orator of the
Col. w. @. Veazey of Rut-
and, judge of the supreme court of
V Vermont, in brief speech in which
he said substantially: We lay aside
our business to-day in honor of those
She gave their lives for the country.
In former days, when it was customary
10 erect statues in memery of national
heroes, a Spartan general said, erect
ne no statue if have done any no.
Die exploit, that shall be my mOnu-
nent." What we have done to-day
shall be more lasting than marble. 1t
vas delightful to see the children |
bringing their flowers this morning. |
We remember how "a yeaIs ago the |
}d regiment was mustered here. We
nave with Us to-day the captain of Co. |
4 of that regiment, who was after
ward promoted to he colonel of the |
9th, and since his return home has /
,een hOnOred by the people of Yer
mont by being chosen judge of the
upreme court of the state.
Judge Veazey, on being presented to
he audience, proceeded to the delivery
# his address, of which we herewith
i've an abstract. 1t was a little less