The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-20

RECENTLY the comrades of the GAR. in
Kansas City, Mo-, conducted to the grave
with appropriate ceremonies the remains of
S. o. Black, who, during the war, was a
member of Co. L, 18th Iowa Cav. Though
not a member of the Order, he had been
cared for during his long sickness by the
comrades of the Posts, and his family offered
such relief as the Post funds could give. The
funeral was made the occasion of o very just
and able editorial in the Kansas City Journal,
in the course Of which it said:
But 1t is profound satisfaction to know that if
the country forgets and does not care for its SOL
diers, that there are others who make dying easy
for the old soldier who comfort him on his last
march by kind attentions, and who bury him after
his earthly enlistment ends. We speak Of the
Grand Army of the Republic.
Non-politcal in character it is an association that
gathers in all Union soldiers, and makes it its mis-
sion to care for them, if needy, while living and
unable to make living. and when they die it
buries them as soldiers should be buried.
1t may make little difference in the abstract
what is done with the body after the spirit leaves
it, but for all that sentiment demands decent in
terment of the body, and the friends of the dead,
when unable to give it, find generous friends and
givers among the GAR. 1t Is q noble association.
an Order whose patents of nobility are the service
papers of its members, their record in war; and it
is good thing to know that the association is
strong in numbers and comradeship.
As they stood shoulder to shoulder in war, so in
peace in life they should stand shoulder to shoulder
to face death, which must as inevitably come now,
year after year, as when it stood impending every
moment on the battlefield. The Union soldiers are
standing shoulder to shoulder, strong in comrade-
ship and patriotism.
Whatever is done to honor the old soldier Is a
tribute paid to country, for his valor and sacr
fees saved the country. And as the old soldiers
die, neglected by their country, 1t were it is q
proud and credable distinction the GAR. takes
death bed and at the grave, which 1t owes and
should pay.
There was an illustration Of this patriotic and
kindly duty which the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie has assumed yesterday, in the burial of an old
soldier. He was an unpensoned soldier, poor. and
n long sickness had made his family even poorer
than when he could work for them, and in dying
left them nothing wherewith to put him away. He
was not n member of the Grand Army, having
neglected the duty of uniting with the Order, but
the Posts of the Grand Army of this city, because
he was an old soldier cared for him by his death
bed. through his sickness, and yesterday paid him
the honor of soldiers funeral. Comrades marched
with arms to his grave and fired the salute, COM
rades spoke over his grave, and comrades prayed
for him, and promised over his remains to watch
over and care for his family.
1t is good thing to have been n soldier, as we
say. There are thousands of them alive. They
form brotherhood strong and compact. cemented
and annealed by the comradeship that war alone
begets The GAR is the embodiment of this sem
timent of comradeship, and while we have spoken
only of the charity of the Order its mission. as
great as charity may be, is augmented by the fact
that the members of the Grand Army are custo-
dams of the greatest achievements of their country
and they teachers in their persons of patriotism
which every American should cultivate and which
he should be ready to display, as they did, when
needed.