Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-06-07
NO. 2O98
IN MEMORY.
The Graves of the Soldiers
Decorated.

II is a beautiful custom-this open
{ remembrance Of dead soldiers by their
living comrades on one DAY in each
year. What could be mere fitting,
more touching, more impressive, than
those lines of veterans, MANY of them I
bowed with age. marching to the last
resting places Of the soldiers who slept
in their tents, shared their fare, their
hardships, fought beside them, and
fell, dying for their country.
The procession, May Both. formed in
front of the G. A. R, Headquarters,
and moved up Laurel street. First
came Marshal Chas Padgetr, seated
upon white horse, with his Aids.
James w. Trenchard and f. NJ. Hod-
son, also on horseback. Following
them came the City Cornet Band of
fifteen pieces, followed by A. L. Robe
son Post, No. 42, under coulmand of
Jona. Hustled. A drum corp of six
pieces came next and twenty eight of
Cyrene Commandery, Knights of the
Golden Eagle, under command of Can.
tain Howard Gilmour, followed. Then
the Ossawotomie Colored Band pre-
ceeded eleven of Custer Camp Sons of
Veterans. The remainder of the line
was made up of vehicles filled with
little girls and citizens.
The procession visited the three
cemetries and short exercises were
gone through with. The baud PLAYED
dirges while the flowers ware being
deposited upon the graves which bore
flag. At the Broad street Cemetery
the Commandry placed flowers upon
the grave of the late William CARL.
one of their members. After the
cemeteries were visited the column
moved down to the place OF starting,
and ranks We're broken.
During the day delegations of the
Post visited Greenwich, Sprinstown.
Roadstown, Shiloh, Woodruff. Friend
ship, and Deerfeld and decorated the
graves OF the fallen heroes. At Shi-
loh special services were f-ld and re-
marks We're made by Mr.. Charles Pad
gett, and ex-senator I. T Nichols.
At the Post rooms the ladies' of the
Loyal Legion prepared dinner and
seventy-nine were seated At supper
one hundred and twenty nine men
were fed at the rooms.
Memorial services were held in the
evening at the Opera House. The
large auditorium was crowded. Upon
the stage which was beautifully dec.
| GRATED with plants. sat members of the
Post, Mayor Dubois, President of
Council Eli Rogers, Rev. John Hand
ley, Rev. S. W. Beach and George
| Ireland. In the centre Of the stage,
was a representation, 30 the I'm
known Dead
A short memorial service of the Or
der was held, and George W Ireland
offered prayer. A quar,ette. consist
ing of Misses Hubbs AMI Ayars aud
/ Messrs. Shull and Janv-,' .ng, after
which Mr.. Chas. Padg4't introduced
Rev. John Handley a. tn, orator of
the evening. His orat IN was bril-
liant effort, and the attenlion of the
audience was held unfie=gingly to the
end. 1t teemed with sublime language.
and the deep thoughts expressed were
food for reflection. W-re it possible,
we should like to publisa every word
of it, but space forbid Many times
the speaker was stopped short by tre-
mendous applause. He plid a glowing
/ tribute to the Generals of the war,
and made touching reference to Gen.
| Phil. Sheridan, as now h lies so near
the door of death. The volunteers
were praised by the eloquent speaker,
and in closing he said he hoped that
the welcome plaudits Of God, the
worlds great ehieftaih, would greet
the old soldiers as they marched before
him in that last great review.
/ May these memorial S rvices long be
continued, not in any spirit of ami
mostly toward those who were lately
foes, but simply in remembrance of
the fallen heroes, who died for the
land they loved so we'll