The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-06-02
THE NATIONS DEAD.
MEMORIAL DAY opsKnvAscrs.


Main Cross street TO Main, down Main street
to the Somerset House, thence north to the
Lutheran Cemetery. where services were
conducted under the auspices of the g.. A.
r Post. The graves of the Soldier dead
buried there, having been previously mark
ed by small flags being placed apon them,
were decorated with wreaths and strewn
with flowers. Chaplain ID. X. Layan, the
chosen orator of the day delivered the fol-
lowing address,
DoREss OF CHAPLAIN LAvAS
Comrades, SOFAS Of Veterans, Ladies aad Gea-
tieH,ea
We have met under very peculiar, solemn,
and impressive circumstances on this Mem
orial day, to pay another tribute OF respect
to our fallen comrades, by strewing flowers
and wreaths upon their graves. We love to
cherish in sweet remembrance, the patriot
ism, the loyalty, and the daring deeds of our
comrades who died in d~efenseof our homes,
our frcsides and those grand principles SO
near and dear to every loyal American cit
izen.
These principles were founded by our
great ancestors. They knew what was right
and what was wrong, and when the mother
country imposed burdens too grieyous to be
born, our iorefathers rose III their might
aud declared themselves free and ~independ-
ent, and after a long and bloody war, their
independence was acknowledged and fully
established. What joy thrilled the souls of
those noble patriots, when they could return
to their homes, and engage IN the pursuits
of industry, and realize that they were
American freemen. They fought for a
grand principle, that all men are equal, all
men should be free, and those PRINCIPLES
have been kept inyiolale, handed down
from generation to generation, and the lib
critics We enjoy to-day, is the result of the
10y aIty and patriotism of our ancestors; and
palsied be the tongue that ever utters one
reasonable sentence, and powerless be the
arm that will ever attempt to strike one
blow at our national Unity.
But there was 4 time when the dark
clouds of treason hung over our land, as
black as Egyptian darkness, the lightning
flashed, and the thunder of wal rolled, that
shook our Government from centre. TO cir
conference, and our glorious flag, the en-
blem of the free, was insulted. trailed in the
dust by traitor hands. But the patriotism
of our noble fathers, sons and brothers was
aroused. The notes of the bngle was sound
ed, the battle-cry Of freedom was sung
throughout the loyal states, and from the
mountains, hil.s and valleys, the hardy
sons o. the North marched to the thrilling
strains Of martial music. They rallied
around one common standard, to crush a
foe, that had insulted our flag, and was at
tempting to destroy this Union of States.
Comrades, We remember those years OF
suffering, anxiety, horror and bloodshed.
We remember the march, the b~ivouac, the
picket line, the skirInish, the rush and the
roar of battle. We remember how u Com
rades were smitten down by our side, and
in front Of us, and how we marched on over
them 20 the final victory. To-day We seem
to be living over the past. ON, what men,
cries rush in upon our minds. Comrades,
we are here to do honor to the noble
dead. who fell in our holy cause in de-
Tense of our glorious country. During
those dark days there was scarcely q family
that did not mourn over the death of some
loved one, who died in defence of our ma
tional integrity and unity. This union is
dear to every loyal heart, because it has
been seale1 and cemented with the life-blood
of our kindred who were loyal. noble, true
and brave.
If the noble men who fell in defense of
our country during the great war, were to
spring into new LIE, there would stand Up
an exceeding great army nearly half a
million would answer 10 their names at
roll call. In my thoughts / seem 10 hear
the roll call of death sounding along the
sluggish waters of the Chickahominy, on
Manassas Plains, at South Mountain, An
tietam, and Fredericksburg. The dezth roll
is being called at Donelson, Shiloh, Vicks-
burg, Stone River, ~Chicamauga, and Look
out Mountain. That roll call of death is
sounding along Sherman's march from
chattanooga to Atlanta, and from Atlanta
10 the sea. 1t is ~roll-call at Charlottesville,
Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsy ~lyania,
Cold Harbor, front of Petersburg, and Rich
mond, and ends at Appomattox. Think of
the numbers slain on those bloody fields,
and if they could respond 10 their names at
roll call, how many would answer here.
And we the survivors of the great war, love
to do honor 10 our fallen comrades, by pay
ing this tribute of respect to our noble dead.
God forbid that we should ever fall so low
as to neglect this beautiful and solemn GER
emony, or forget the principles for which
our comrades laid down their lives. May
Memorial Day be kept in sweet remem-
brance while q veteran of the great war
shall live, and may our children, and our
childreR's children ever do honor to the
noble dead who haye fallen and who may
fall in defense OF our country.
Why do we keep this Memorial auniver-
sary day? Merely to decorate the graves OF
our relatives? We answer, No, bat to re-
member our comrades, who tonight by our
side, and who laid down their lives for the
land they loved. Some of our comrades
graves may be neglected to-day for some OF
them fell on the mountain top. or on the
hill side. or in the woods. or on the bank of
some river, or by the side of some murmur-
ing brook. Their last resting place is not
known to man. Let us think of them and
drop an extra bouquet in grateful remem-
brance of them.
/ am glad to see such a representation OF
the Sons of Veterans with us to-day. May
the love Of country fl your hearts with pa
triotism and LOYALTY. At the breaking out
of the great rebellion, twenty. five years ago,
these gray haired veterans were then, like
you to-day in the vigor and bloom OF young
manhood They endured the bardships Of
that long and bloody wal to perpetrate the
liberties We and you all enjoy to-day. We
look back with pride to the work we accom-
plished by the help Of Almighty God. Yet
sorrow and sadness fills our hearts when we
think of our comrades who fell by our side.
sons Of Veterans We look with pride upon
you and the noble young men OF our land.
because We think the same patriotism that
burned in the hearts of your fathers, thrills
your souls, and that you will be fully quail
fed TO take the places of your ancestors,
either in the pursuits of peace and happi-
ness, or in the dread realities of war. We