The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-29
THE SLEEPING SOLDIERS
The Nations Defenders.
TOday's Memorial Services Dec0ra
tion OF the County Monument.
Exercises on the Island.

many piacts, eistWutrt, Oh acctMht VI
its falling on Sunday this year, there ap.
peared to be no misunderstanding as to
the day decided upon in Rodk Island,
and farmers came in from the country in
large numbers to witness the exercises in
the city this morning and at tie national
cemetery on the island this after
noon. At o:3oI the procession
formed on Union Square under
C ommand of S. d. ClelanA chief mar
shall and aids C. G. Daek. John ohlweiler
and Walter Dauber. The cblumn moved
down Second avenue Sn ahe following
order:
Rock Island Police DEPARTMENT.
Chief Marshal and aids.
Beuer's Band.
Escort Rodman RIFLES in command of
Capt. Abel
Mayor and City Council.
Gen. John Buford Post G.. A. r.
and all ex>soldiers and visiting comrades
under command of Jas. W. Bracket,
Commander of Post.
Beardsley Camp. Sons of Veterans.
The programme at the
COUNTY SOLDIERS MONUMENT
was according to the simple and Impress
i've ritual of the G.. A. R., and opened
with dirge by Bleuer's band and prayer
by Rev. l. W. Read, chaplain of the day,
when Commander Bracket read from
the ritual the following:
The duty of today is of impressive sig
nificance. We meet to honor our dead
and TO deepen our remembrance fol
their worth; to strengthen among our
selves the bond of fraternity by recalling
the memory of experiences common to III
all; TO encourage more generous chart
ty for our comrades who are sick or il
distress, and for the destitute wards O.
the grand army; to renew our pledge o.
loyalty to our country and our flag, ant
to emphasize in the minds and hearts O
all who may unite with us, the privilege
and ddty Of patriotism.
Comrades, 1t is expected that through
out our services each one will NANTES
the most courteous and reverent decorum
Let our soldierly department be sucl
that We may worthily honor the monu.
ment we decorate, the memories WI
cherish. the flag we salute. and tn
grand army to which we belong.
DR.. Patrick Gregg, as officer of th'
day, read from the ritual this, as h
strewed the flowers about the monument
10 your name, my comrades, we seattle
these memorials upon those who died il
the sacred cause of our country. OuI
floral tribute shall wither. Let the tende
fraternal love for which it stands endur,
until the touch of death shall chill tn,
warm pulse-beat of our hearts,
Comrade Buck repeated these line!
| from the ritual:
Comrades, by this service, withou
| distinction of race or creed. we renew
our pledge TO exercise a spirit Of fraterni
ty among ourselves. of charity to tn
destitute ward of the grand army ant
of loyalty to the authority and union o
tho United States of America, and I,
our glorious flag under whose folds ever
| Union soldiers or sailors grave, is tn,
altar Of patriotism.
Commander Bracket followed witt
these lines.
To-day is the festival of our dead
IN N nil In hHnnr hn
brave and our beloved, to enrich and en-
noble our lives by recalling public hero
ism and private worth that are immor-
tai, to encourage by our solemn service
more jealous and stalwart patriotism
Festivals of the dead Yes, though many
eyes are clouded with tears, though many
hearts are heavy with regret, though
lives are still desolate because of tn,
father or brother, the husband or love
| who did not come back; though every
grave represented by this monumen
which tender reverence of love adorns
with flowers, is the shrine of sorrow
whose influence is still potent though it.
first keen poignancy has been dulled. -
despite of all, to day is festival fes
tival Of our dead; no less festival be-
cause it is full of solemnity. And now
with soldierly tenderness and love
we have garlanded this passionless mar
BILE, let us recall those who made thei
breasts barricade between our countr,
and its foes. Let us recall their tolls
their sufferings, their heroism, their su
Dreme fidelity in camp, in prison pen, OF
the battle field. and in hospital, that thu
flag under which they fought and form
the shadows of whose folds they are pro
NOTED, may never be dishonored; that Oh
country for whose union and supremac
they surrendered life, may have the fer
vent and enthusiastic devotion of ever
citizen; that as we stand here as befor
an altar, we may pledge our manhood
that, SO help us God, the memory of on
dead shall encourage and strengthen i
us all more loyal patriotism.
The Rodmsn Rifles fired salute thre
rounds-the assent lage joined in sing
ing my Country It's of Thee" Fatht
Mackin, pronounced the benediction an
the beautiful ceremony was over, tt
shaft to the memory of Rock Isian
county's patriots, being more TASTEFUL
Rnd extensively decorated than ev'
before.
| This afternoon large number of pee
pie from the three cities went to
THE NATIONAL CEMETERY
on tine government island, where Bufor
post Of this city, acted as master of GER
monies. Special trains on tine G. B
| Q. road, bore the organizations and pee
pie from this city to Moline, where I'll
profession was formed by 8. d. Clelan'
chief marshal, with August Reimers {
Davenport, T. d. Wheelock, of Molin
G. G. Dack, John Ohlweiler and Walt
Danber, Of Rock Island, as aids. I'll
% arch was taken I'D to the cemetery