The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-06-03
DECORATION DAY.
As Observed in Morris, An Occasion Long
To Be Remembered.

As Observed in Morris, An Occasion Long
To Be Remembered.
As the years roll on and decoration
day comes around the ranks OF the u.
A. II. men are found thinning out and
the numbers rapidly growing less.
But not so with the army of citizens
who are ready, heart and hand, to
join with the few remaining soldiers
in paying tributes of respect to the
| memory of those who lost their lives
in defense of their country.
The ceremonies here on Monday
last were of unusual interest, and one
of the largest crowds ever assembled
in Morris on any occasion participated
in them that day. The number of
people in the city were nearly 5000,
and the elements seemed to favor the
occasion, for the weather was grand,
all that could be wished for. A not
able feature of the day was the APP
pearauce of the sons of veterans in
body. AS the ranks of old soldiers
grow thinner, the work of decoration
grows harder and upon this young
and energetic organization is fast de-
volving the work of proper obser-
vance of the day in the future.
The morning observance consisted
I~r. 10 hn or
decoration of the graves. The pro-
cession was formed at the hall and
was composed of the Fife and Drum
Corps, Overton Post and ex-Soldiers.
From thence, followed by hosts of
citizens in carriages and on foot, they
moved to the cemeteries and decorat-
ed the graves of dead soldiers.
In the afternoon at $3.50 O'Clock the |
grand procession was formed. In
this the post of Hancock participated
and also all the societies of the village |
besides several hundred school chill
dren dressed in white.
After the principal streets had been
paraded the procession moved up
Fifth street to memorial monument.
During the march the sweet strains
of suitable music furnished by the
drum corps. Hancock and Excelsior
bands, and the marshal of the post
and officers of several societies along
the line in full uniforms mounted on
nervous and fiery steeds were impress
sive and attractive features. The
line was made up as follows:
Overton Fife and Drum Corps.
Floral Decorations.
G. A. J. Overton Post No. 90 G.. y. r.
Hancock Post.
EX-Soldiers.
Scott Legion, No. l3, A. o. wv.
Morris Lodge, No. IS, A.O.U.W.
Excelsior Band.
Fire Department.
Hancock Band.
Father Matthew Temperance Soc'y
School Children.
Carriages.
AT the monument prominent part |
of the program was carried out.
A stand had been erected for the |
choir, speakers and officers. and seats
were arranged on the grounds for the
accommodation of several hundred peo-
pie. The exercises here consisted of
the regular post ceremonies, singing
by the choir, music, speaking and
the decoration of the monument.
Commander Gillespie, the efficient
master of ceremonies, delivered the
address of the post. The other
speakers, Hon. John A. Giltinan and
Mr.. VIM. G. Bicknell, delivered ap-
propriate orations and added to their
laurels as able orators and interesting
public speakers. A short and very
appropriate address was read by Mr..
L. Stebbins, of Hancock.
The program was closed by the de-
coration of the monument with
wreaths and bouquets of flowers con-
tributed by friends and relatives to
| the memory of the dead. AS each
wreath was placed upon the monu-
ment the name of the soldier, with
his regiment and company, the place
and cause of his death were given.
This was followed by prayer offered
by Rev. X. F. Norris, and thus closed
a memorable day in Morris.