The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-06-07
DECORATION DAY
Memorial Grafton Delivered at the
Opera House, Jackson,
BY CAPT. II. G. JONES.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COMRADES
OF THE GRAND ARMY, AND Sons
OF VETERANs-We have met to-day,
in accordance with an honored and
beautiful custom, and in obedience
to the purest and noblest impulses OF
our manhood and womanhood, to pay
tribute to the memory Of the fallen
defenders Of the republic.
With in and
o @ se SSe Of svye ane Of
f. nnd lam from and e
TO save the liberty in which we trust.
In token Of our love, we bring the
choicest flowers of spring-time-we
twine for them wreaths Of evergreen,
emblems of Immortality, to testify
that they shall be in everlasting re-
membrance.
But what is the lesson of the hour?
Is all this ceremony for the dead
alone? Is all this hollow mockery,
an idle show?
No, my friends, the beautiful cere-
mony of decorating our comrades
graves, was instituted by the Grand
Army of the Republic, for a noble
and patriotic purpose.
It is said that that noble Christian
woman, Mrs. General Logan, con-
ceived the idea of thus honoring the
departed heroes, and that she suggest
ed the matter to the General. / am
inclined to believe this, because the
most blessings, the brave, good and
L,o-4;e,l oon,o euor, xron,on IT, ;c
at least true, that the first order to
the Grand Army Of the Republic
making it a National ceremony and
National day, was issued by our late
Commander-in-C Chief, Comrade John
A. Logan-than whom no braver man
e'er drew a sword in defense of his
country, no nobler, truer friend of the
battle-scarred veteran e'er breathed
the air Of heaven. He, too, has gone
to join his comrades on the farther
shore. Living, he was hero-dying,
he left the lessons Of grand life. and
he left us this beautiful ceremony.
Its purpose is, that we may by thus
coming annually together, annually
renew our pledges Of fidelity to our
lone country and one flag" That
around the graves of our departed
comrades we may rekindle in our
hearts the fires of patriotism. That
we may inspire the rising generation
with that love Of country, that love
of liberty, that noble patriotism, which
actuated, animated and inspired those
comrades whose greves we decorate,
whose names we cherish and whose
memories we revere.
We come to te ach the coming man
and woman Of America, that it was
not simply that our comrade died for
victory, but rather that it was the sa-
Grad cause for which he died that |
made his dying holy. 1t was the glo-
rious cause for which he fought and
fell that makes his name and fame
immortal.
Holidays have been observed from
time immemorial. The anniversaries
of the birth of men and of nations, of
great battles fought and great victo-
ries won, Of great events in history
which mark the growth or decay Of
nations, these have been observed
since the morning of history. But,
my dear friends, in all the calendar,
two only of all the various days that
have been observed by savage. barba-
rian or civilized man, have been COM
Of death. Christmas is
observed as the anniversary of the
birth Of the Savior Of mankind. Eas-
ter Sabbath, with its songs and an
thems, its wreaths and flowers, is COM
Of the bright morning of
the resurrection; while Good Friday
in the calendar Of Christian people is
Of the death and bu-
rial of the Savior.
We have many civil holidays.
Among these the 22d of February is
observed as the anniversary OF the
Washington; the Fourth of
July as the anniversary of the birth
of the Nation, of freedom from tyr
amy, Of civil and religious liberty;
while this day, May 3Oth-Memorial
DAYS. set apart in the calendar of
patriots to commemorate, by solemn
but beautiful service, the death of all
those heroes who laid down their lives
that our Nation, born on July 4th-
maintained and defended by Washing
ton and his compeers, might not per-
ish from the earth" but that it might
survive the dread perils Of civil war,
by successfully resisting the murder
Gus assaults of treason.
The dead, save in the lessons of
their lives and in their deeds that live,
are of no further use to the living
Rip Van Winkle is supposed to have
said: "How soon we are forgotten
when we are gone" This has been
largely true Of all the dead. Heroic
acts, in their results, outlive the actors
Only here and there, in history, out
Of the millions who have peopled the
earth, stands forth hero whose name
and fame have come along down the
centuries. Few names SURVIVE, of that
noble band of heroes who fought to
free us from English tyranny. They
are gone. The army Of the Revolu-
tion, the rank and file, where are they?
Their names forgotten, their graves
neglected and unknown, yet "The
Army of the Revolution" in their
glorious deeds, will live forever in his
tory.
It does not matter that a comrade
was unknown to fame The humblest
private in the ranks and the Major {
General at the head Of his column
stood, each in his place, face to face {
with duty and with danger, and when s
each had faithfully and fully dis
charged the duty which the fortune {
Of war cast upon him, however hum {
ble, or however proud, according to
his rank and station, then they were
equal. Equal before their comrades
in arms; equal before their country S
men; equal before humanity-equal
before God
And when the dread messenger
came. and the end was reached bY {