The Republican journal., 1885-06-04
Memorial Day.


Memorial Day.
By GEORGE S. DoRR.
Once more the rolling tide of years to us hath
Memorial day, with sad sweet memories fraught :;
Once more the battle SCARED and ever noble brave,
Lay loving tribute on oh fallen comrades grave.
flower, a tear, fiag,-the flag they loved SO we'll,
The flag They followed still, mid hurting shot and
Shall deck each low green mound above soldier
Tokens of friendship that round the camp fire
grew.
The flower shall rest in beauty on each lowy tomb,
The tear shall kiss the flower and strengthen its
perfume;
While in the springtime breeze the dear old flag
shall wave
Above the verdant roof of every soldiers grave
tie comes with solemn step this duty perform;
And DER the spot where sleeps one worthy of a
crown,
He sadly, gently, lays his loving tribute down.
And ah the veteran finds as pass the fleeing
years,
More flags are needed, more flowers and vet more
tears;
For many times each year the hand Of death doth
fall,
And many comrades answer to the solemn call.
Each year some comrades seek that distant, I'M
To join the ranks, which, twenty years ago and
more,
The Great Commander formed from those who
freely gave
Their hearts best blood country's flag to save.
The earthly ranks thinning fast, and DER wave,
The heavenly ranks are swelling with the true and
brave;
grass grown yet
Whose sanded Wilderness still the gentle raintrops
fret
And sometime, as the changcful years must on
ward roll,
Those holy ranks shall claim the last old veteran 5
Then to earthly roll-cal will no reply be given,
But every one shall answer to the roll i'll heaven.
Then you, who have not yet in death laid down
your arms,
Continue still the work which you have well be-
And let the work of sweet remembrance still be
And when, in Gods good time, the last Old vet is
His last great battle fought, his sweetest victory
The grateful people shall take up their work lai,,
dOWn,
And yearly weave the flowers to make the soldier S
crown
May, 1853.
THE OBSERVANCE OF THE DAY IN BELFAST.
The ceremonies of Memorial Day were more
generally observed than usua. Saturday May
80. This is particularly true of Maine, and is due
in measure, to the fact that the annual encamp-
ment of tie National Grand Army of the Republic,
soon to assemble at Portland, has given an impetus
to all Grand Army Posts in this State The exercises
in this city were perhaps more satisfactory than
ever before. The day opened warm and bright,
and the only disagreeable feature was the dust
which envcloped everything, almost running fine
clothing and millinery. 1t is disgrace to our city
that public occasion like this, when the town
is filled with visitors, the streets cannot be
sprinkled. In the forenoon delegations from the
Post visited the different cemeteries for the pur-
pose of marking with flag the graves of every
known soldier or sailor. Year by year these flag
designated mounds grow more numerous and will
soon far ontnumber the living comrades who on
each anniversary so tenderlv seek them out. The
Ladies Relief corps and others for several days
before were busy making garlands of flowers, so
that all were handsomely provided for. A happy
custom has grown up of decorating with flowers
all the graves in the cemetery. For weeks owners
OF lots in Grove Cemetery had been busy beautify.
ing them, and the grave that was not deliberately
trimmed was an exception 1t is unfortunate fact,
however, that the vast crowd that assemblies tram
piles down and destroys more than months hard
work, assisted by nature, can replace.
AT two O'clock p. NJ. the procession formed on
| High street, opposite Thomas H. Marshall Post
headquarters, in the following order:
Chief Marshal Ansel Wadsworth and DR.. q. p.
Lombard, aid
Belfast Cornet Band
Belfast Uniformed Degree Camp, l. .. Q. F., as
escort.
Thomas IL. Marshall Post, q. A. II.
Carriages with INDECENT Veterans
,,l,.ifi
Belfast City Government in carriages.
Children to assist in Decorating Ceremonies.
Inc column marched up to the intersection with
Church street, down Church to Grove, up Grove to
Congress, over Congress to Main, up Main TO
Grove Cemetery.
Large crowds followed the procession, and ii was
the universal opinion that the Belfast Cornct Band
acquitted itself admirably, showing that all its mem
hers have made great progress. The whole pro
cession was fine. The Post numbered about seven
ty five men, in uniform of blue coats, pants and
vests, and brass buttons. Mr.. c. W. Haney Past
Post Commander, furnished most of the uniforms
Arriving at the Cemetery hollow square was
formed about the grave of Col. Thomas H. Mar.
shall, when Col. Foger, Post Commander, con.
Quoted the services. Rev. j. A. Ross made a most
fervent and eloquent prayer, which touched the
hearts of all present. The grave of Col. Marshall
was then decorated with 1owers after which dele
cations visited every flag marked grave and laid a
garland of flowers on each The procession then
re- formed and marched back to Post headquarters
where all were dismissed until the evening exer.
| cises
Business places were closed in the afternoon from
until FOUR and everybody entered into the spir
it of the observances. Flags were displayed at
/ halt ms from, no m. Ta,,
pie, and the Coliseum.
EVENING SERVICES.
The Belfast Opera House was modestIy tlecora
ted for the occasion In the of the stage was
the Post altar ingenious piece of furniture, the
legs representing Inverted cannon, while stack OF
cannon balls were beneath On the altar were the
American flag and the Bible At each wing OF the
stage was collection of potted plants and flowers
artiscally arranged, ard stacked guns, over which
were thrown the American flag. The hall was
densely packed.
An excellent choir composed of Miss Lottie Col
burn, Miss lisa Conant, Mrs John H. Quimby
Charles NJ Craig, Mr.. Petteng, and Miss Mary
Faunce pianist, rendered appropriate music.
The exercises began by Adjutant Diworth read
ing the general orders from the National and State
Department commanders.
Post Commander Foger presided and read the
| services.
The choir sang an anthem, ave decorate oul
dead.''
| Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Savage.
Thirteen young ladies, each bearing flag, next
appeared upon the stage and sang "Rally Round
the Flag, Boys"
Adjutant Dlworth then read the following Kol
of Honor, which Commander Fogler said contained
the names of all Belfasts dead soldiers and sailors
so far as is known, and called upon any one who
noted any omission to notify him.
THE ROLL OF HONOR
Allyn, VIM. B. Larrabee. S. II.
Adams, Scot. Lowe, Fred j.
Baker, Edward. Luce, Albert S.
| Baker, Albert Marshall, L. ii.
Bean, III. NJ. Mathews, A. b.