The National tribune., 1886-06-24

These flowers came from California. and right here
u may be proper TO notice the thouShtfulness of
Mrs. Il. Jane Russell, Department President Of the
Woman's Relief Corps, who made arrangements
with Lincoln and Garfield Corps. OF san Francisco;
Lyon and Appomattox Corps, Of Oakland, and
send flowers TO the six Posts in Nevada for Memo
rial Day Each of the Corps named had designated
to il By Mrs Russell the Post that would be the
ciated by our brave boys In blue"
DEPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS.
DEAR TRIBUNE: Memorial Day at Warren Ill.,,
under the auspices of Warren Post assisted by the
W.R.C., was memorable occasion. The floral
offerings were graceful and abundant and the eti-
Gems OF town and country seemed to vie with one
another in honorng our heroic dead. Besides deco
rating the graves in the cemetery and placing
wreaths on the monument in memory of those who
sleep Southern baitlefelds united ceremonies
were held in the beautiful grove adjoining the
schoolhouse grounds During the exercises Mrs
Carr and Mrs. Corning, on behalf of the W.R.C.,
presented a cross and a crown, each accompanying
her gift with touching and beautiful remarks. In
the course of her remarks Mrs Carr said
Remember that the peace and security of this
day Is due to you and your comrades faithful and
loyal services. We come to assist in perpetuating
the memory of those solemn days when brave,
loyal men sacrificed all that the heart holds most
dear, when lettering age and loyal, loving woman
gave their all at their countTy's altar; hoping
thereby to neulcate lessons of patriotism and love
OF country to our children and to our children's
children To the remotest generations. that your
brave gallant services will be heldn grateful
remembrance.
I'VE would especially remember in these our me-
mortal offerings, our brave sailor boys who sleep
beneath the briny deep, and your gallant comrades
who fell on Southern battleiields upon whose
graves mothers tears shall fail or daughters
hand plant sweet forget-me-nots.' Neither would
we forget our brave loyal women who followed our
armies to the front, who. on the field in camp
IN hospital ministered with loving hands to the
sick and dying To you, comrades, for all these,
and for every loyal and faithful service. by whom
soever rendered, would we present these, our me
mortal offerings
In browning the cross Mrs. Corning made the fol-
lowing appropriate remarks explanatory Of the
work of the W.R.C:
One object among others Of the Woman's Re-
lief Corps. is to assist the Grand Army of the Re
public TO perpetuate and cherish tenderiy the
memory of those who made their hearts a barri-
cade between our country and its foes. We should
guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that
the consecrated wealth and taste Of the Nation
add TO their adornment and security, il but fitting
tribute to the memory of her slain defenders III
other eyes grow dull and other hearts grow cold
in the solemn trust may the Woman's Relief Corps
ever assist you comrades Of the Grand Army OF the
Republic TO keep II we'll as long life remains II
Is but right that we gather together each year in
memory of our Nations sacred dead and garland
The passiOnless mounds above them with the
choicest flowers Of Sprngtime.
Let US raise in their memory the dear old flag
they saved from dishOnor. Let Us in their solemn
presence renew our pledge, to aid and assist those
whom they have left a sacred charge upon Ma
tons gratitude. the soldiers ndsailors and widows
and orphans.
By this cross, we are reminded of the cross our
dead heroes bore. We place this crown upon the
cross as an emblem OF their reward.
60 No more shall the war cry sever
Or the winding river be red;
They Danish our anger forever,
When they laurel the graves of our dead
by their sacrifice we permitted to truly sing,
My Country, lis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty"
Commander Wilson, on behalf of the GAR,
cepted the beautiful cross and crown, and at the
close of the exercises preceded by the band soldiers
and citizens, they marched TO the cemetery and by
the hands of little girls deposited beautiful flowers
upon the graves Of the dead soldiers while wreatI
OF flowers were fastened upon the monument in
memory of the absent ones SurmountiHg the
Dionument beautiful harp made from cut
fowers. ordered especially for the occasion. After
all these exercises the ladies of the W.RC. fur
nisIed an elegant repast to the members OF the
GA r. in their hail. which successfully and httingly
closed the days exercises.-R. NJ w.
SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT BADGES.
DEAR TRIBUNE: VIII some one please inform me
what were the different corps badges and their
colors, as wish to piece badge quilt to contribute
to fair that W.R.C. anticipate holding to
assist our Post 10 hall where we can all hold
meetings; also division and brigade badges, If there
were such, with name number and eoiors. Why
Is the Twelfth and Twentieth Corps badge adopted
by the GAR? Did u. r. Stephenson belong to
Corresponding Secretary, Corps No. 80. SibIey,
Iowa.
DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
DEAR TRIBUNE: VIM. Logan Rodman Relief
Corps, No. So Of New Bedford, Mass, did efficient
work in preparing the decorations for the use of
their Post Memorial Day They made nearly
400 wreaths and filled the same number Of wire
baskets with moss and flowers besides making up
large number OF crosses and bo,lotiels for in
surrounding towns Every soldiers grave in the
city was decorated alike with basket and wreath,
by the comrades. and the ceremony was touching
aud beautiful. The Corps had placed on the SOL
diers lot a mound with a large urn upon il, filed
with growing blooming plants and a marble slab
known Dead" The ladies, each with a floral design
OF her own preparing. many OF them with caro-
attached bearing name Of soldier sleeping in az
IN he
marched to the mound and formed in hollow
square around it. The Chaplain then made n
prayer. the list of names upon the cards read
by the President and then each laid her tribute
upon the mound, completely covering il with
beautiful flowers. Toe Corps held strawberry
festival and apron sale, realizing handsome profit
theTefrom. A more energetic Woodworking Corps
can hardly be found in our Department." Re-
porter
DEPARTMENT OF IOWA.
DEAR TRIBUNE: Not less than 5000 people as
sembled at WoOdlawn Cemetery on Memorial Day
and such an outpouring of people was never seen
here on similar occasion. In the grand process
sion an object OF special attraction the floral
car prepared by Cary Camp, No. g. and Burnside
Camp, No. 2, Sons of Veterans 1t was built in
terraces and literally covered over with beautiful
flowers and evergreens. The awning over il
flag draped ia mourning. Surrounding the whole
was an American eagle, and beneath were these
notices. They sleep in the land they made free -
and They died for liberty they died for US -
The engines OF the Fire Department were profusely
decorated with flowers and foliage; the ladders
with flowers and evergreens tastefully arranged
Over each driver was an arch Of flowers and leaves
andthe horses were also appropriately decorated.
boys fire department. with their small hand wagons
similarly decorated, followed.
The ladies of Croker. Kinsman and Joe Hooker
Corps were untiring in their good works. and to
them is justly attributed much of the beautiful
floral effects of the day. The Corps were repre-
scnted In procession, as were Department Head
quarters situated here. One feature of the process
sion which attracted universal comment on its
appropriateness and touching suggestiveness was
the three riderless horses led in the line of march,
They were fine iron grays, and their empty saddles
and brides were draped in mourning for the three
ilustrous Generals who in the past year have gone
TO join the silent army. The inscription on the
first horse was, . In memory of Gen. Grant " the
second was TO commemorate Gen. Hancock, and
the last Gen. Mcclellan
LIVE CORPS
DEAR TRIBUNE: Relief Corps No 45, Mount Zion
Department of Iowa, is still alive. Our Executive
Committee laid the plans for part Of decoration
Memorial Day, and every member went to work to
made and covered 10 resemble marble. Evergreen
was twined around the shaft. The lower square of
the base was ornamented with evergreens and the
inscriptions " Fraternity. Charity, Loyalty" and
Unknown" On two opposite sides of upper
square two guns crossed, and on the other
two opposite sides flowers arranged as 10 form a
shield on one side and anchor on the other
Beside the bouquets carried by the Post and
others we arranged floral star for each grave 81
In number, which were carried by many little
girls, the same number of little boys marching i'm
opposite rank carrying flags. Forty-eight Of the
Corps out OF % marched in the procession carrying
flowers TO decorate the monument.
On Thursday evening, June 8, the Corps gave
Red. White and Blue festival which netted US $50
We are making rag carpet to exchange for ingram