Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-30
MEMORIAL DAY,
Strewing Flowers Over the Soldiers
Graves.
EXERCISES TO-DAY IN THE VARIOUS
CEMETERIES.
Services at Arlington, the Soldiers HON,
and the Congressional Burying Ground.
The Parade OF the Grand Army OF the
Republic-The Memory OF the Dead
Celebrated in OrattOns, Poems and
SOngs-Incidents Of the Day.

kepublfc-The Memory OF the Dead
Celebrated in OrattOns, Poems and
Songs-Incidents Of the Day.
The radiance of spring day with glow of
color, and the fragrance Of flowers are SO insep-
arabic with the observance Of the day devoted
to the memory of those who died for their cOun-
try, that Decoration day, under a lowering sky,
and with the air filed with moisture is rather
an unusual experience The observance Of the
day in late years has changed, and people now
very generally make arrangements for excur-
sions to the country and in other ways try to
make the holiday one Of rest and quiet pleas
ure. The weather indications yesterday were
not favorable, but yet in the hope that to-day
might prove clear and bright, the arrangements
for picnics, excursions and other outdoor recrea-
tions went on and the larger portion of the people
had determined upon spending the day in the
open air. The threatening appearance Of the
weather this morning did not deter great
many from carrying out their plans, and so the
street cars were packed from IN early hour and
the depots and wharves presented a busy scene
as the throngs Of pleasure-seekers fastened to
leave the city. Although SO many go out Of
town on Decoration day, yet the purpose for
which the day Is set apart Is not forgotten. The
graves of the thousands Of veterans who fell In
the late war are visited with afectionate re-
membrance, and loving hands strew upon the
grassy mounds the beautiful flowers of the
spring. These floral tributes were gathered in
the Masonic Temple and arranged in graceful
wreaths by the ladies, and to-day were con-
veyed to the various cemeteries and then laid
upon the graves of the dead.
The Procession.
The rain driZzled down in O very discourage
Ing style at the hour designated for the assem-
bling of the various G. A. r. posts, at Grand
Army hall, this morning, but the veterans did
not seem to mind the unpleasant weather
They marched down in line and took their
places along ID street, and waited for the order
to march with the air of men accustomed to
brave the weather. The majority seemed to be
skies and when the Marine band appeared in
sight, showing the stalwart form Of the drum
major enVeloped in q water proof, and the mu-
slcians with John Sousa in the midst, SINH
arly protected, the veterans gave them
warm reception, and the remark was heard,
aid i0ns to a.dan The The aS
water proofs or umbrellas either. and their neat
uniforms of blue, with the rows of shining brass
coverings, or gathered under the protect
ing ribs of umbrellas. The hour named
for the procession to move was 10 o'clock,
and few minutes after the order was given
and the procession moved towards the heights
Of Arlington. The usual soldiery appearance
OF the procession presented the novel feature of
umbrellas bobbing up and down along the line,
but the Veterans trudged along steadily over
the wet pavementS and through the dripping
rain, and the spectators along the sidewalks an,
plauded the spirit which animated the moving
columns. In point of numbers the procession
was owing mainly to the fact that on account of
the weather many of the veterans went over
to Arlington in the large BUSES that were pro-
vided for this purpose.
THE FIRST DIVISION.
The procession was headed by the full Marine
band, under the direction Of the leader, Mr..
John P. Sousa; then followed veterans carrying
the flags Of the department
The Union Veteran corps (Old Guard) came
Lieutenant Jas, NJ. Edgar. In addition to the
members of the corps, Capt. Thomason, S. J.
and w. H. Hoover, of the star, were in line.
occurred in the presentation to Lieut.. Edgar Of
of his valuable services. The badge was pre-
sented in the name of the corps by Captain
The veterans in the service were followed by
Custer Camp, Sons Of Veterans an organize
ton composed Of the generation that has grown
Capt. w. c. Fanauhar, and in their neat uni
forms presented very soldiery bearing.
Next in line came the department COM
the department. officers and staff, as follows:
James w. Wisner. DR.. Florence Donohue, Rev
Benjamin swallow, J. II; Baxter, John Came.
V. Casey, Perley b. Dickerson, Samuel A.
Lewis, Past Commanders ID. s. Alexander s. S
Burdett, VIM Gibson, Ben. F. Hawkes. and H.
The members of John A. Rawlins.Post, No. l.
were well represented In line, the officers being
as follows: Hanson +. Weaver, commander:
Newton Ferree, adjutant: Lee S. Mortimer
qgartermaster; S. a. Il. McKim, surgeon.
then came the members OF Kit Carson Post, No
=. differed as follows: Commander Marcus S
Hopkins; adjutant, Fred. H. Smith; quarter
master, James W. Wisner; surgeon, J. j. Pur-
man.
Lincoln Post, No. 3, had good proportion of
the members in line. and their officers are as
appended: Commander, Hanse II. Smith:
adjutant. James f. McCabe; quartermaster
Charles King; surgeon. FLORENCE bonohue.
No. T. closed this division OF the line their Off
GERS being as appended: Commander, Chas
H. Shorter; adtutant, Isaac S. Hawkins: quar-
termaster, I. Nero Crawford; surgeon, Edward
Bright.
THE SECOND DIVISION.
The lively music Of the Marine drum CORPS
announced the approach Of the second division
of the line, and it was headed by the Union Vet
OF Capt NJ EInmet Crel. The steady step aud
even ranks of the marching column was an evil
dence that the old soldiers had not forgotten to
march.
Next In line came the George G. Meade Post
No 8, the officers being as follows: Commander
master, Thos l. Miller; surgeon, ". ii. Swander
The members OF the James A. Garfield Post
No. Z, marched in line, the officers being as fol-
Lewis j. Melchoir; quartermaster, A. II. G.
richardson; surgeon, A. G.. Adams.
Burnside Post, No. =, had Its complement of
mander, Chas H. Ingram; adjutant u. F. Nc
9iowan: quaEtermaster, r. s. Lacey; surgeon,
X. II. Buck.
The last organization In line was the Charles
Sumner Post, No ., and its officers are as fol-
lows; Commander, Geo. NJ. Arnold; adjutant,
Jacob ii. Rlchardsont 9uartcrnaster, John A.
Clark; surgeon, John H. King
In the rear OF the procession as 1t passed up
the avenue were q number OF BUSES and car
riages. containing those who were unable to
walk, as we'll as the members OF the families OF
the veterans, to whom the duties of this day
are as important as those who have seen active
service.
At Arlington.
Memorial services were held at the National
cemetery at Arlington, and the usual program
carried out not yRifhsfandina tho tbroa4o.,