Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-10
UNVEILED.
THE sHR0UD TORN ASIDE AND AME.
MORTAL EXPOSED TO VIEW.
The First Grand Army Monument
in California-A Description
of the Ceremonies.

The first monument dedicated to the
! Grand Army of the Republic in California
was unveiled in the City Cemetery yester-
day afternoon with impressive ceremonies
The members of the various local posts
gathered at the Grand Army headquarters,
corner of Tenth and K streets, and the pro.
cession started some time after o'clock. 1t
was headed by a platoon of police, behind
whom came the First Artillery band, and
military escort under command of Captain
7. B. Hall. Then came the officers of the
day in carriages, accompanied by State,
county and city officials and invited guests.
The Sons of Veterans and their drum
corps came next, and they were followed
by large contingent of the Society of Pio-
neers, in charge of P. S. lawson, President
of the Society. The local posts of the G.
A. K. acted as an escort to the Pioneers
The ladies OF Fair Oaks and Sumner Re-
lief Corps, and the ladies of the G. a. R.
concluded the line, occupying carriages.
Grand Marshal c. II. Hubbard handled
sisted by George W. Ficks. The line of
march was directly out Tenth street to the
cemetery.
Upon reaching the cemetery the dedica-
tory exercises were at once proceeded with,
opening with prayer by the chaplain,
Rev. W. G. Merrill.
Superior Judge w. c. Van Fleet then
turned the monument over to the old
veterans on behalf of the citizens of Sscra-
mento. He said:
The occasion which has caused us to assem-
BILE here to day is one OF mingled pleasure and
sadness. Pleasure in contemplating our more
immediate purpose, yet infinitely sad in the
memories and reflections that are awakened
From the earliest history of the world, among
savage, fidelity to country has ever been and
ever shall be regarded as the highest and mob
lest attribute of man. Deeds of valor and of
sacrifice in defense of the common country
have ever been the surest pathway to a peoples
gratitude and peoples honor. 1t is to this
attribute and such deeds that we are here to
pay just tributeof respect and devotion.
1t is not necessary that / should dwell upon
those facts so pregnant with the immortal his
tory of our country, which have resulted in
making our present purpose appropriate, since
eloquent than words. Memory that has been
imperishably recorded in the blood of loved
and honored ones and which finds responsive
echo at every hearthstone. 1t is sufficient for
me to say that to those heroes, living and dead,
who in the hour of her peril, leaving
the pleasant fireside of peace and
taxing up the sword, conSecTated their
lives to the service of their country. We as
nation, owe debt of gratitude which it can
never be ours wholly to repay. 1t is this senti-
ment actuatipg the great heart of this people
that is to find appropriate expression here to-
day. The citizens of Sacramento have caused
TO be erected this memorial statue, designed to
commemorate those glorious events which have
preserved our country to great and happy tu-
ture; and TO keep green the memory of those
whose heroic deeos have made thai future DOS
slble And TO you, Commander and comrades
OF sumner Post, as living representatives OF that
grand army whose mem"ry we desire to honor
and perpetuate, is most fittingy to be copfided
this sacred trust.
The pleasant duty has fallen to me, in behalf
OF the citiz ms of Sacramento to invite you to
accept at their hands this offering of their de-
yotlon, and to ask that you dedicate it to the
noble purpose for which it has been desi sned
Accept this evidence of peoples tender mem
ory and affection, not alone as a tribute to your
comrades dead, but as an earnest of that patri-
otic sentiment OF gratitude which has place in
ne heart OF every lover of the Union, toward all
those who barred their breasts in the cause of
human liberty and eternal right. | now sur
render this memorial to your keeping.
j. W. Reeves, Senior Post Commander
accepted the monument in the name of the
Grand Army of the Republic in a few
we'll chosen words.
Then followed the ritual services by the
veterans attending the dedication. A guard
OF honor was stationed at each corner of
the monument and a sailor, representing
the navy, solemnly placed an anchor and a
cutlass at the south base of the monument,
while soldier, representing the infantry
laid musket, cartridge-b box and knapsack
at the north base.
Judge n. Greene Curtis was then intro
duced and spoke about an hour. His ora
ton, which was frequently interrupted BY
bursts OF applause, was a mastery effort
and perhaps one of the best of his life
The Judge, in referring to the occasion
which had brought so MANY people to-
getber, said in substance: We have as
sembled for the purpose of dedicating a
monument to the memory of our soldier
dead. To-day we stand in the presence of
| the war-worn veterans who fought in that
great conflict Tor the perpetuation of the
American Union. We also stand in
reverent manner, with bowed heads in
another presence the presence of the
| soldier dead who have thrown off
! the habiliments of war, aud have
answered the last roll call. Above
their sacred dust stands this granite pile
| which we now, on this beautiful dav, be.
| meath the blue canopy of heaven, unveil to
their memory. No political discord dis
| turbs our horizon We are to-day, thank
God, moving down the stream of time a
prosperous and happy people united by in
dlSSoluOle DOndS. III has cost something to
make this country what ii is to-day. The
struggle ofour forefathers for independence
was an undertaking such as only heroes
| could enlist in. Lexington. Concord,
Bunker Hill and Yorktown were the step.
piDg-s'ones 10 a new era which forever
solved the great problem of self govern
ment by the people and for the people Our
Constitution, which has been cur guiding
star through hundred and thirteen years of
| our national existence. was framed by the
greatest minds that the world ever pro-
duced. Under it we have been guided to
the present hour, though during that
| period we have passed through all internal
conflict which cost this nation her best
blood and millions of treasure. Brother
| met brother on the field OF battle. That
grand old flag passed through all and not
single star dimmed. The cost was fearful
| to behold. Yet believe that under the
guidance of q Divine Providence we have
| came forth purged by the fires of civil
war, more closely csmeDteG for the perpetu-
| alton of our beloved country for all time
| than ever before. Is this work of to. day
an idle ceremony? We answer, No. That
monument marks a chapter in the nations
history that never will be repeated.
Judge Curtis after paying glowing trjb-
ute to the memory OF General Grant for
his magnanimous act at Appomalox to
i -