, 1885-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY.
Under the Roses and Pansiss the
Blue.
A Successful Celebration of the Ma
tons day Of Mourning.

Ihe skies could not have been brighter
nor the temperature more genial than
when the sun rose yesterday upon the day
in which our republic does honor to its
fallen heroes wherever they lie. During
the afternoon some slight showers fell,
but one Of them were strong enough to
do injury to even the daintiest dress that
adorned the ladies' present, and altogether
the celebration passed off pleasantly and
without the slightest accident. As early
as IL o'clock noon, the streets were alive
with people, and among them flashed the
uniforms of societies which were to take
part in the procession.
Shortly after 2 O'Clock the procession
formed on Seventeenth street. in front of
the city hall. Each of the different or
CARNATIONS was in full uniform and their
appearance was creditable in the greatest
degree. All carried wreaths and flowers
and the parade moved in perfect order
without a hitch or anything whatever to
mar the programme for the occasion.
The parade was formed in the following
order:
9th United States infantry band.
Pioneer hook and ladder company.
Durant hose company.
Alert hose company.
Phil Sheridan fire company.
J. 7. Clark hose company.
Drum corps, George f. Meade post.
j. F. Reynolds post G. A. r.
Geo. F. Meade post, Sons of Veterans.
President of the day, orator, poet and
clergymen in carriages.
Mayor, city council and city officials in
carriages.
Territorial officials in carriages.
Citizens in carriages.
Citizens on horse back.
Citizens on foot
The procession soon started with bands
playing and banners draDed and moved
from the city hall to the Catholic m
terry.
The procession was commanded by
Comrnde j. w. jeffrey marshal, and his
aids Messrs. Louis Loeb, G. A. Coffman
and D. c. Rhodes.
Alarge number of people on foot,
horseback and in carriages had preceded
the procession, and crowds were in both
cemeteries before the arrival of the socie-
ties participating in the parade. AT the
Catholic cemetery, the graves had all
been decorated with flowers, and the
grave of each fallen soldier having been
marked with a flag, was visited by the de-
tachment of Reynolds post G.. A. r., de-
tailed for the purpose, and the beautiful
ceremony Of scattering flowers upon the
mounds was performed at each, under the
draped flags of the post, the swords of
officers and the muskets of the detach-
ment, which was commanded by Com
rade Nicholas j. 0'Brien. s, V. Q. of
the post. After these ceremonies the
assembled throng listened attentiyely to a
short and interesting discourse by Rev.
Father Nugent, the burden of whose re-
marks were that the blood of Catholics and
foreigners had commingled with that of
Protestants and native Americans in de-
Tense of the Union and that under similar
circumstances or in defense of the Union,
the same would occur again. The pro-
cession then moved to the city cemetery,
where the anne ceremony Of decorating
the graves was performed, after which,
from a platform in front of the soldiers
monument the further exercises were con-
Quoted, in presence of a vast crowd, and
they were conducted under the direction
of Comrade ]. w. Fisher, senior vice
commander of the department of Colo
RADIO. These consisted Of music by the
9th infantry band. an eloquent and APP
propriate prayer by Rev. r. L. Field, a
poem by Comrade W. L. Visscher and a
benediction by Rev. Geo. G. Rafter.
Comrade Visscher prefaced the reading
of his poem with the remarks, ITO day.
a nation walks among its graves. The
storied banner of the republic is draped,
and throughout the broad land, on each
grassy mound that marks the last resting
place of one who died that his country
might live, are strewn the springtime's
fairest and freshest flowers He then
read his poem, which is as follows:
Marching On.
Steadily on. the years have gone,
With stern and silent tread,
score and more since that dark day
When wars black cloud o'erspread
This land OF Hove md liberty,
Unhappy Union wed.
Aye. many year have sped away.
Since voice and bugle called
A million men to serried ranks
True hearts and unappalled-
The nations strength was rent In twain.
And stood opposing, walled.
Then Northern nerve and Southern soul
Were blent in battles heat.
And 'gainst each other in the strife,
Their flashing blades were beat,
And high the waves OF carnage ran,
Encrimsoned in the meet.
That crimson page in historys book,
Hath long ago been turned,
And Peace, upon her nltar-name,
Her incense of'rings burned
remembrance freshens here to-day
The woful lesson learned.
The ribbed and wrinkled face OF earth.
Where rife pits were lain,
And where the long contending lines
Belched storms OF leaden rain.
Shines brightly in the springtlme's sun