Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY, 1886
DECORATING THE SOLDIERS GRAVES
TheVeterans' Trib butte to the Mem
Dry Of their Dead Comrades.
SCENES AT THE CEMETERIES.
Exercises Held To-day by the Grand
Army Of the acknowledgements at
Arlington, the Soldiers Home and the
Congressional Cemeteries-xR
BY dUn. J0ls0-Drhomrf

the Grand Army of the Republic postponed the
exercises in memory of their dead comrades
until to-day. The day opened with threaten
ing SKY, but, nevertheless, there seemed to be
no lack OF Interest in the preparations for the
days ceremonies. The memorial services began
in fact yesterday, when a decoration day SER
mon was preached before the members of the
Grand Army of the Republic. by Rev. Alexan-
der Kent lat the Universalist church. The statues
OF the city were garlanded with evergreens and
MOWERS by committee of the G. A. II. AS
usual many people took advantage of the holt
day to-day for days outing and this morning
picnic and excursion parties, with gossamers,
umbrellas, and large baskets struggled from
every direction towards the railroad depots
| and steamboat wharves. All of the resorts on
the river and along the railroads in the vicinity
were occupied by excursion parties. This
hegira, however, did not seem to have much
affect upon the attend nee upon the memorial
services In the cemeteries.
The exercises at the Soldiers Home and the
Congressional cemeteries were held at 10
o'clock. The exercises at Arlington began at
noon. The members of the Grand Army
marched through the city in procession on the ir
way to Arlington far as the Aqueduct bridge,
Where the parade was dismissed.
The Procession.
In the vicinity of the Grand Army head.
quarters, at the corner OF 9th and D streets,
this morning groups of men in uniforms stand
L
floating in the air, the beat of drums and the
| stirring strains of the bands gave animation to
the scene, which was stirred with the hustle OF
preparation. The veterans of the Grand Amy
posts were out in full force to pay their annual
tribute to those comrades who had died in the
great contest of civil war. While legs and arms
were wanting, US could be seen by CHANGING
along the line, still, as has been the custom,
tnere were hut few carriageS-the veterans
although disabled by wounds, preferring to
take their places In the ranks In paying this
tribute Of remembrance to their iailen com
rades. While the posts were forming on d
street the troOrs OF the regular army formed
on the avenue. between 9th and 10th streets.
They We're preceded by the band OF tee Sd ar
tillery. and We're under the com mand OF Briga-
der General Horatio G. Gibson, who was uc-
companied by his staff mounted. The regular
trups consisted OF one company of artillery
and three companies dismounted as infantry,
and they were follows: Sd battalion, Sd ar.
tiiIery, Capt Lewis Smith commandins; bat
terry X, Capt. Lewis Smith commanding: battery
II, Capt. John +. Mount commanding; battery
l.. Capt. Frank W. Hess commanding; battery
u, Capt. Jas. Il. Burbank commanding; battery
A, Capt. James Chester com mandlng: light bat
terry Z, Sd artillery, Col. E. h Warner COM
mandng.
band, with John p. Sousa, conductor. then the
Union Veteran corps (Oid Guard), Capt. j. NJ
Edgar, commanding, and the Geo. A. Custer
CAMP Sons OF Veterans, Capt w. Rutherford,
commanding. The department G. A. Il. Tags
showing The signs in their tattered fold, oi the
conflict of war, were borne next in line and pre-
cedlng Department Commander Burke no
together with the officers OF the department and
past post commanders walked at the head of
John A Rawlins Post, No l, Christopher q. Boil
finger, COMMANDER; Post 2 drum corps Kit
carson Post, No. 2, Charles p. Lincoln, COM
bard, commander; Post 4 drum CORPS 0. F.
Morton Post, No 4, VIM. H. Liverpool, com
man p1I -, George g. Meade Post, No 5, Edward
corps. John +. Reynolds Post No. q. Thomas
Galloway, commando: James A. Garfield
Pcsl, No. Z, Philip II. Weber, commander
Burnside Post, No. s, Alexander Ii. Holt, com
inander. Charles Sumner Post, No. g. Frederick
e. Reveiis, commander. Farrayut Post, No. H.
-. Il. Glllatln, commander.
Mr.. Cody, VINO Is better known as Buffalo
Bill. joined the ranks OF his comrades, and was
conspicuous, as he rode alone la carriage fol-
lowed by "a mounted siaf Oh cowboys. Nearly
all the veterans carried bouquets OF tiowers and
their brilliant colorS bright tened the entire
lns axe column hrn me l,ns % march was up
across the river TO Arlington. Along tue route
oi march the spectators gathered, ana as the
veterans passed along flowers were pressed into
their HANDS To he added to the tribute which
Was to he laid upon the graves.
At Arlington.
Before the procession began the march to
Arlington rain began to fall. By the time the
members OF the Grand Army arrived at Airing
ton every one was drenched. The ground was
wet, the canvas roof of the amphitheater leaked
and 1t seemed probable FOR a time that the ex-
continued to fall in torrents.
Hundreds OF people proceeded On their way
towards Arlington as far as the Aqueduct
bridge and then retraced their steps driven
back by the rain. Still there was very re-
spectacle attendance of welI-drenched people
on the grounds. The number of vehicles seemed
about the mansion; but the number OF those
who went afoot, always heretofore composing a
lass y,b of those eodrsa
set up refreshment stands along the
road found Jhnt there was great depression in
the horsecake and lemonade trade. Some of
these concerns suffered greatly from exces.
sive watering of stock that they were Obliged to
close up their business early in the day. On the
The ladies' committee remained in doors while
comrades of The Grand Army. distributed the
flowers over the 10000 graves. The tomb of
the unknown was very handsomely decorated
with flowers and banners. The am phi heater
too, was tastefully decorated.
THE EXERCISES.
Owing to the rain the exercises In the amphi-
theater were delayed until considerably past
the usual hour. During the exercises the
Marine band and the Third Artillery band
played at intervals. Department Commander
Burke called the assembly TO order, Rev. r.
$. Wyncoop offered an invocation Mr. lanes
H. Stewart read u poem, Mrs A. T. Morgan re-
cited w illiam Winters "Piedge to tha Dead ),
Hon. John ID. Long, who was accompanied
with bis bride. delivered the Grafton.
EX-GOv. LONGS GRAFTON
Mr.. Long said: ~ gratefully acknowledge
your courtesy, veterans ana members of the
Potomac Posts Of the Grand Army, in inviting
me, civilian, TO speak for you this dav. I
should shrink from the task, however did not
know that In SO doing /, civilian, pay to YOU
the soldiers OF the Republic, the tribute which
every citizen OF the state owes its defenders.
l rejoice with you in this sacred hour on
which the heavens do not weep, but SMILE
teaching us the true lesson of this observance
the lesson OF that enlarging life which In our
poverty OF language, and fear i'm our poverty
OF courage and faith, we call death. 1t is day
dedicated to patriotism and education. The
green leaves are III their full bursting to give
IT welcome. IN this beautiful resting-place Of
springing turf, they are not there, but with us.
Ihey throng these forest aisles, and cluster and
SIT with you, and the blessed iaith OF immortal
lty unltes the historic past, the living present
and the expanding hereafter in one common
universal heartbeat, thrilling in all our
breasts, ana answering back TO God, the fountain
OF life. ltwere poor day, were 1t but the biust
OF horn, the clatter Of u sword, the pageantry
Of AN hour. II Is great day because 1t stirs the
soul 70 higher life and blends IL with the poets
Hre, the patriots service the mans true conSe-
Grafton. In that SPIRIT rather than In any
formula OF show Or meagre word OF mine, let US
observe 1t. II Is day sacred indeed to the
inspiration OF patriotism in the living. Hence
forward II is mblazoned upon the calendar OF
the year with the cOnsecrated days that have
come down TO US from the Pilgrim ana the
PURITAN, with Christmas, and witch the BIRTH
days OF Washington and American Indepen-
dence 80 II commits US airesh to the eternal
foundations which the fathers laid Of piety edu-
cation, freedom. Justice, law aud love 0f country
ihe time will come indeed, and speedily, when
none VI You shall remain to observe IL, and