Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-06-07
MEMORIAL DAY IN MlDDlEBURY

The observance of Memorial day in
Middlebury was under the direction of
Russell Post, G.. a. r., who did honor to
themselves by the manner in which they
carried out the programme. The places
of business all closed at noon and the
people of the village, and many who
came in from surrounding towns, deyot-
ed the afternoon to the exercises. The
procession formed in front of the Addi-
son House at ! o'clock, under command
of DR.. Russell, marshal, and Comrades j.
III. Sargent, Wallace Dewey and w. II.
Bingham, assistant marshals, in this or
der Middlebury band, j. b. Cobb, lead
er; Camp Tracy, Sons of Veterans, Hor-
ace Tracy, captain; Russell Post, G. y.
r., w. l.. Cady, commander: platoon
of High-school boys, 30 in number, COM
manded by Geo. +. McCue; carriage with
a daughters of veterans dressed in white :;
carriage with orator of the day (Col.
Geo. W. Hooker of Brattleboro), Hon.
John w. Stewart and State Commander
with flowers, and, finally, long line of
carriages. This was the High-school
boys first appearance in body. They
marched well, and, like all the rest of the
organizations, showed to advantage. The
line of march was through Main street
to the West cemetery, where the G. A.
X. memorial service was held. After
the closing prayer, by Rev. F. G.. IIeaXt,
| the graves i'm this and the Catholic cem-
etery were decorated by the daughters of
veterans, assisted by comrades of the
post. Then the line reformed and the
procession returned to the town hall,
which was full to overlooking when the
exercises began. Adiutant Ioutt read
State Commander Tracy's order and
Commander Cady made a brief address.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Keith.
Then came vocal music by these singers,
Mrs. Miner presiding at the organ: Nj. A.
Munroe, DR.. w. Ii. Sheldon. F. ID. Boyn-
ton, Joseph Turner, Alfred Woodward,
j. w. Lovett Next an original poem
was given by Mr.. w. II. Button of Mid
dlebury, which was well received, and,
after music by the band, the orator of the
day was introduced, and said, in part:
The simple Offering of beautiful flowers
which the nation brings to its dead today Is
typical OF the simple, brave lives which our
heroes lived and OF the cause for which they
died. These flowers are embematic OF the
ideas tor which they died, and their deeds
shall be remembered as long and recognized
as often as the flowers bud and blossom in the
spring. 1t is not in the smoke of the battle
| that the loss in war can be measured. \ no
bility may be developed in war that will eX-
tend beyond its termination, and the most
valuable lessons which have been learned
and may be learned from war are very many
There is nothing in the line of "A great advance
in history except what has been brought
about by wars, and every great war has been
! IA progression OF ideas-ideas of education, OF
civilization, OF liberty 1t is these that we
think of today while we do honor to the mem.
Dry OF the brave men who have fallen. We
can trace the progress of mans struggles Tor
liberty through nearly every page OF written
history. The struggles OF all peoples tor lib
erty finally eliminated in our war tor indie
pendence, and the result of that war was that
the highest, richest, noblest accomplishment
OF the aspiration for liberty was found on this
soil. Liberty and patriotism have been linked
together in every age and in every cline, and
this liberty has been brought about by war
united with philosophy. The Roman legions
| carried with them into the provinces law and
ideas of law. The study of man in nature Is
the highest study; the study OF man in books
in the highest form is the study of the history
OF ancient days. In such study was found the
germ from which sprang the spirit OF indie
pendence that eliminated in our idea OF lib
erty. We learn from history that there was
care about personal liberty among the tar
barbarians, but see, Tor example, how differ.
ent II was with the Germans. They fought
tor liberty and home life, and they lived hap.
PLY amid their home surroundings. Among
us the love of liberty has been as great among
the humblest AS among the highest, and from