Telegram-herald., 1888-05-31
AFTER CANNON SMOKE
rasurss TO s.Ise.se so.D.sss
Ths ysissy CITY Observes Memorial Day
-Is>rs ard kisssrs GO soA11>xs
Grsvss-xhs Music, he sSss<iss
sza lhs REs<x.&xo1-

0rsv<s-xhs Music he sSss<Ass
sHa Ihs fxs<ss>tes-
Never before id Grand Rapids observe
Dseorstion ssd Memorial Day - veil as Il
cid yesterday. Nearly al the shog~ and
stores IA TIE city we're eiossd and business
Vas almost Suspended for the dsy.
1hs day saz brsxht and beautiful snd 50
eontinusd untll about 4 o'clock slsn there
vss little rainfall.
The s1osk touching feature Of tie day vas
the appearances OF TIE bronz<d. bruised and
battered veterans Of the q. A K The pro-
cessi9n frnst as announced 10 yesterdays =
IELEsksH- III snsLD 81 the Garner of Turner
and Hsst Bridge sts.. the righl restink on
Bridge. sad whsa IS moved ~ 9:45 .. m.
aio1g Canal snd NonTos-sts.. il made .
very crscitsbls shoslng. Twenty patrol
men. 0ficers FISHER, Howell. Conlon. Nc
Carthy, ustcAsll Sitter. Graves. Donxherty.
Brown, Engle, Bsmens, Wiley, French,
TubbS Williams. Wordsn. Wiley. slattsry.
Ware. aud AcDornsn, N eommsnd Of Ser
gent Hurley. al dressed Ia spotless uni
forms and kid gloves. headed the parade
and were feature Of the procession. The
tirst divisica was headed By Marshal III.
Madden aud aids, followed BY The Presi-
dent OF the Day, Mr.. w. A Clark, Orator,
L. G. Rutherford OF Hart, Past Department
Commander. and Rev. j. A. Sprague, Chap
lain, and A. G. Adsit. in carriages.
Then came the Pasriarchal Circle
Custer Post. q. A. r.. No. 5. with W. ID.
Frost commanding, numbering l02 men,
Champlain Post. g. A. r., No. 20 with 8.
White. commanding. numbering 70 men.
John A. Logan Post No. 4. from the Sol
diefs' Home, Captain Bellaire, command
ing. numbering 70 vets" The leader
carried banner OF John A. Logan heavily
draped in mourning. Next came Gen. L.
q. Smith aud his staf, Col. j. g. Herkner.
Lieut.. +. W. Jones and +. Cfofton Fox. OF
the Military Board. in Carriages. Maj.
William T. McGurrin. Battalion Com
msnder Of State Troops. next came In line.
followed by Cos. J., Capt. G. III. Rose COM
manding, numbering 30 men. Co. b.. Capt.
w. 5. kinney commanding. numbering 80
men. and Co. h. Capt. Dennis Rogers
commanding, numbering As men in full
dress uniform. The next in order Was the
Common Council and city officers in car
risses. and followed by the Citizens Com
mittee and Mexican soldiers Ia carriages.
the latter numbering s men. The second
division vas headed by Carl B. Tracy, Com
mandsr, followed by the Knights of Labor
band; the Pstfiarchial Circle, Captain Bah
cock commanding. numbering "A men
Sons OF Veterans, Captain Williams com
msnding, numbering 81 young men; Pat
risrchs Militant. Captain Wilder command
ing. numbering 81 men; then the Y. NJ. @
A Cadets, iour old war veterans in car.
riage. and four carriages containing little
girls dressed in white and carrying bouquets
OF covers.
A number Of carriages then came in line
filled with old soldiers. Custer Relief Corps.
Champlin Relief Corps and citizens. Nearly
all those taking part In the procession wore
bouquets or carried flags. and when they
arrived at Fulton Street Park there were
thousands Of citizens to greet them.
When the crowd had masssd about ths
archial Circle Band played Nearer My God
to Thee" and then w. A. Clark. President
of the Day, read q brief address, concluding
with the following:
To-day we will decorate the monument
here presented by the patriotic citizens Of
Kent county in honor OF our brave comrades
who lie buried in Southern battle fields
where the greatest number of the grand
army who went forth to battle, .ow rest il
| peace"
male auartette sang 1--WE Deck Their
| Graves Today" and the Rev. J. A. Spragus
uttered prayer, after which Col. J. Il. Nc
Reynolds read q poem dedicated to thl
Grand Army of the Republic, and Gen. l.
| 8. Rutherford, Past Department Com
mander of the O.. A. X. of Michigan, wa
! introduced by Mr.. Clark. Commando
! Rutherford spoke without notes, and hi
address was most eloquent tribute TO hi
fallen comrades. While the winds rrs;lec
through tie new-grown leaves, he said
I'VE are here, today 70 celebrate the new
/ est and yet the sublimest holiday o
the Nation--to pay grateful tribute tt
| those noble men who fell in battle that tn,
country might live" This beautiful
| valley had sent forth thousands of men tC
put down an unholy rebellion. Many
came not back TO enjoy the blessings Of tn,
| best country under the sun, and this day
WAS celebrated in memory of those brav.
boys who had lain down their lives for the
| Union. Ever should their graves and tn,
memory OF their noble deeds be kept green
But" said the speaker. You did rot do i
| all. That mother who bade her first anC
| only born Take ycur gun and go, John,
believe size did more 10 put down that re
bsllion than we did. don't know whether
/ you ever prayed or not. comrades. but be
| Iieye that the prayers of those loyal moth
ers. wivts and daughters did more 20 KEEP
| the boys in line than any other one thing.
There was much for the mothers Of tn,
! present to do. They should teach the
/ children 10 love their country and is
| history. and 10 be patriotic citizens saic
/ General Rutherford. "Oid age crseps on
/ a2ace and our time is coming. and in th,
very near future. can see the last one o
/ this band; with one hand on = staff aud
bunch of Spring flowers In the other, h
/ goes to the lsst resting place Of the dead snC
! then for the last time strews the graves o
| the honOred dead. Each Memorial Da'
brings rs one step nearer the last mile ston'
nearer the journeys end. Let rs. then
| appropriately shTste the sublimest OF on
| holidays"
The address was heartily spplauded anC
praised ~ ell.
The Gise Club sang Cover Them Owe
| With Flowers" The Y n. c. A. Cadet
sang "Amarics." and the exercises at tn,
/ park closed With the benediction OF tbs
/ Chaplsio. After the exercises st the par.
I the T.. A. r members marched % Nonu
T1ental Park and arranged themsel res aboul
1 the triangle. wAers the services were in a.
cor5snce With the ritusl Of The q. A. r.
( posts.
The committee then visited the cemetsrie,
[ in groups snd decorated the graves of th,
departed soldiers.
A. the soidters' Home
Memorial DAy vss appropriately observed
a. the Soldiers Home. and great number
/ of citizens vent out there 70 hear the al
| dress of capt. q W. Watkins. The sa4rrs
vas an excellent ere. With The exception o
the fact that Captain Watkins allowed III