Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-05-31

AT the conclusion Of the address the
Officer of the Day Comrade " v.
Ashford, decorated the symbolic grave
as he said
My Comrades: In your name
scatter these memorial flowers on this
grave, which represents the graves
of all who died in the sacred cause Of
our country. Our floral tribute will
wither; but the affection which it sym
bolizes shall endure until the touch Of
death shall chill the warm pulse beats
of our hearts. Then followed prayer by
the Chaplain, Comrade Cruzan, and
music. The orders for firing three volleys
by the military escort was then given by
Major Baker, but owing to the faulty
character of the blank cartridges used
this salute was omitted The bugle
corps then sounded the call for taps"
after which details from the Post decor
ated the graves in the lots of the U. S.
Navy, the G. A. R. Post, and the grave
OF the later Major Dickson.
Flowers we're also strewn upon the
grave of the late Captain Hope, R. N;
Of the child of Past Post Commander
Samuel Mott; of the late wife of Com
rade Arnold; upon the grave of the
late DR.. Enders, who served in the
Confederate Army, a lady friend, wife
OF a veteran, placed floral tribute of
peace and good will A very large
number of the graves in both the old
and new cemetery were decorated with
flowers, wreaths and bouquets by sur
viving friends in anticipation of the
day.
Upon the conclusion of the cere-
monies the procession was reformed
and marched back to the Post room
where the escort presented arms as
the Post marched by, and then march
ed to the Armory and we're dismissed.
During the day the hall in the Y. M.
c. A. building was draped, over the
platform, with large American flags be
tween which was suspended floral
design of two crossed cannon. Above
the cannon was hung beautiful piece
of embroidery representing the Amer
ican eagle and flag. On the platform
was cenotaph bearing the names OF
veterans who have died on these
Islands, and at both sides Of the speak
er's desk was a stack of muskets. In
the angle of the hall at the head of the
stairs was suspended handsome ban
ner bearing the badge of the G. A. R.,
painted by Stratemeyer
| AT 1890 P. NJ. the hall was filed with
people and by the time the exercises
commenced every available space was
filed. The members of the Post occu-
pied seats on the left of the platform,
while on the right was the piano, and
the ladies and gentlemen who formed
the choir forthe occasion. Owing to the
indisposition OF Commander Lame
brought on by the fatigue of the march
to and from the cemetery-Comrade
i GfiiSgpzan- acted as Post Commander for
The opening solo on the Piano forte
by Miss Joran was brilliantly played
and loudly applauded. The General
Orders from general and department
headquarters, G. A. r., relating to the
observance of the day were theH read
by Adjutant Noble, after which the
roll of the Post was called, and the
"Roll Call of the Dead" responded to
by Senior V. c. McKeague. The
Salute to the Dead" was then given,
followed by the quartette, Rest
Soldier Rest" sung by Mrs. Hanford,
Mrs. A. F. Judd, Mrs Cruzan, and
Messrs. w. w. Hall and Prof. Yarnd
ley. After brief address by the act
ing Commander the National Ali
America" was sung by the choir and
audience, and the U. S. Minister
Resident, Comrade G. w. Merrill de-
livered the following address
MINISTER MERRILL's ADDRESS.
Across the ocean, "a nations living meet
to-day to mourn Nations dead"
The people step aside to bend over
the graves of the heroic band and look
again at the APPALLING spectacle as they
hurled themselves into that steady,
deadly struggle. The accumulation Of
these memorial days revivives the
past, intenslfes the present, and photo
graphs the future. Each year the fresh
made grave reminds US that there
slumbers at our feet another whose life
march is done--that the roll call is
growing shorter and shorter, the ranks
, thinner, and that ere long only one
company can be mustered, and that
, in single rank, while, soon thereafter
Memorial Day will come and go with
no officer or even a private of tina,
Grand Army to call the roll or scatter
a flower over the dust which covers
their bones.
But when the last comrade shall be
called to biyouac beyond the portals Of
the tomb, will there be no one to
"cover them over with beautiful
!, howers?"
| have faith to answer, Yes. l have
faith to say that the silent mounds
! covering the dead heroes are sacred
and imperishable monuments of an
eternal principle, the foundations Of
, which are so immovable in the heart:
of our people that future generations
will guard them with loving care, adorn
them by preserving that unity fol
which they died and emblematical ot