The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-31

Each organization was in full ranks,
as many as thirty of the veterans of the
Soldiers Home being on foot in the line
under command of Captain Coffey.
Those not able to walk rode. Their flag
was furled, alfording to the eye a most
impressive symbol on this memorable
memorial occasion. As the procession
moved up Main street (reaching from
Free Library building to the corner" in
that portion of it comprising the vet
Grams and those related theretO) very
impressive sight was afforded those al
the Putnam, and many remarked the
appropriateness of the display. as well
as establishment that the -soldiery
of Bennington were 80 large in mum.
bers
The exercises at the cemetery were
impressiveIy performed. The prayer by
the Rev. Fred Wilmer was very touch.
ing and appropriate The benediction
was pronounced by the Rev. William B.
Walker
Mr.. Marten at Free Library Hall began
his address by an encomium of the in
stitution of Memorial Day as a fitting
tribute to the services of the patriot cit
izen sodiery who by their services IN
the field had saved to the world this
grandest of all the nations.
The speaker then proceeded to outline
the elements of our greatness and to
specify the excellences Of the insttu-
tions of our land, and ventured to sug-
gest dangers to our American types Of
national life from the vices growing out
of human nature and the importation
of aristocratic and national and social
peculiarites from Europe. He expressed
himself as believing that our nation was
in peculiar sense the protege OF divine
Providence; that the principles of the
declaration of independence were little
less than divlnely inspired, and had in
them the elements of perpetuity. He
said the need now was to regard our own
history and governmental popularity, as
differentiating it from all others, as the
proper studies for our schools more than
ever before. holding up patriotism and
Americanism to the admiration of the
younger portion of our people.
The address was replete with classic
and practical suggestion and oc
cupied about forty minutes, and was re
celved with every mark of appreciation.
TIE services were duplicated at North
whittier a crowded train
carried celebrants Of this Memorial Day.
The tain was met at the depot by
crowd Of citizens, and all marched in
fine order to the burial grounds. Mr.
made a spirited address in the
open air, and after decoration of COM
rades' graves and music by the band in
fntr to-. 81
on the train. All were happy in the en-
joyment Of the magnificent panorama
from the North Bennington cemetery on
this truly magnificent May day.
NOTES OF THE DAY.
The excursion trains from the norl h
and from Chatham brought into town a
goodly number of people, and from the
south the Citizens Band Of Berlin. This
band was organized in May, 1887, and
for the time it has been together shows
good proficiency. We recognized sew
eral veterans in band matters in their
ranks, nineteen strong. They dlscoursed
excellent music during the day, gave a
sample Of their finer playing at the
Corner and returned in the early even
ing on the special excursion train.
The Sons of Veterans were surprised
upon repairing to the grave of Fred.
Ray, after whom their camp is named,
to find thereon an elegant floral s. o, V.
badge in coIors-an exquisite piece of
art. Mrs. G. ID, Gibson was
the one who contributed this expressive
emblem.
The cadets made fine appearance.
These are the little lads who were drilled
by Captain Coffey for the operetta last
winter, and their appearance in the pro-
ce.sion yesterday was at once surprise
and a pleasure, adding much to the
parade. This suggests that the organ
ization might well be continued, as the
boys possess handsome uniforms.
The floral gifts were very profuse this
year and not confined to the Grand
Army. Nearly every grave in all our
bore some floral token of love
from the living to the dead.
The Grafton by the Rev. z Marten is
one of the very best ever
delivered here. The abstract or sketch
of it, above, does it scanty justice, for
the reason given.
Our county furnished its full quota of
orators yesterday. The Rev. z. Marten
spoke here, the Hon. James X. Batchel-.
der in MorrisviIle, the Hon. Loveland
Munson in PIttsford. and Prof. Frank
Bradford in ReadsborO.