The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-23
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOteS from the Departments.
MEMORIAL DAY.
Tributes From the States.

Following are extracts from the Memorial Day
Orders of Department Presidents so far as received
Extensive preparations have been made by the Re-
lief Corps of every State for the observance of the
sacred day, and it is estimated that not less than
10000 children will participate in localities where
Posts are assisted by Relief Corps.
The Memorial of the Flowers" benefit Relief
Corps Home wsll be given by many Corps on the
evening preceding Memorial Day, so that the flow
ers used will do n double duty. The veterans are
deeply interested in this Home, and in many places
actively assisting the Corps in their present
work. The recommendations of the National
President, Charity Rusk Craig, as to the . Memo
rial of the Flowers" reiterated by the Depart
ment Presidents of Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kansas and Illinois.
Following are sweet tributes to our fallen heroes,
taken from the Memorial Day Orders of Depart
ment Presidents:
All over our broad land from Maine to California
scattered the graves of our Union dead, and
wherever n soldiers grave there let the fragrant
blossoms and bright flowers OF the glad SpTIngtIme
be srewn so that we can teach our children lessons
they may not forget. Death has also entered the
ranks of the Relief Corps and taken from our num-
Der those who were ever ready to answer the call
for aid, and above them let us place the immor-
telies of our fraternity.-Grace u. Howe, Depart
ment President of Maine.
We are intoxicating lessons of patriotism and love
of country among our children when we interest
them in Memorial Day services by inviting them
to gather flowers and take some part in the exer-
clSeS of the day Let us our Influence to have
Memorial Day observed rs a holy day, not a ho-
day. The grave of no army nurse or sister OF the
Relief Corps should be forgotten. / trust every
Corps will erect floral mound to the memory OF
those buried i'll unknown graves.-Lucy NJ Toms,
Department President of Connecticut.
See that mound that shelters the dust ofthe
veteran is left without its token of grateful remem-
brance; its record made in flowers of our undying
love for cur Nations defenders who have answered
to the last ro-call. Let us be filed with the spirit
of the hour Serve in deed and truth country.
Strive 10 Tighten the labor which presses, year by
year, more heavily upon those who hold this sacred
charge Aid them in teaching the new generation
tile story of patriotism and setsacrifee, and arouse
to renewed life in the hearts of the people reali-
cation of the price paid for their hertage.-Emma
b. Lowd, Department President of Massachusetts,.
Teach the children on this day to honor the deeds
of their fathers and revere the name of their coun
try. Let them weave flowers into garlands to lay
on the grassy mounds, purest of offerings from
purest of hands. Over the graves of the unknown
dead the wind walls out the only requiem ever
heard, and softly signing through branches of
cypress and pine, tells story OF Loneliness and
despair of and suffering, none may ever
hear in other tones. Then day replete
with recollections of all the brave and true, let
build for all who sleep on Southern battlefield or
meath the ocean wave n mausoleum OF flowers,
and waited to heaven with their fragrance shall
ascend our praise for their heroism and our prayer
| that their sacrifice may not have been in vain
Sarah G. Mink, Department President OF New
York
With loving tenderness strew tho grassy beds
of our departed soldier and sailor boys with most
| beauteous flowers, fragrant with the breath of
Spring Thus may we typify our thorough knowl-
| edge and appreciation OF the myriad blessings
| which accrue to to-day because these noble
heroes laid down their lives for us. And thus by
/ the weaving of garlands and twiuing OF chaplets
| forever symbolic Nations noble ideal of martial
| heroism. In loving remembrance OF those whose
| graves are unmarked who quietly sleep beneath
/ the ocean wave or in some remote corner of the
South, may we bequeath the laurels they lost with
their lives, and sacred TO their memory eonSecrate
some floral tablet design as a tender tribute to
departed vaor.-Elizabeth Sutherland Herron
| Department President of Ohio.
| he nIya that ayfl snrfa hu
| passed by-however isolated the place OF burial
may be, not forgetting those of our own Order who
/ duty. Remember, too, the heroes that still SUR
yive, and strive to make the day one of hallowed
enjoyment 10 them. Bring all the children to help
| in this beautiful service, and as you gather and
scatter the flowers, teach their young hearts TO
| value the sacrifice their fathers have made, and
! insti into their minds reverence for this loving
| duty, so that when we too, have Joined that silent
group they may feel it a pleasure TO keep green the
m !. en- or, ~. hoor,. ho. mayor .ta,1 heat
| The eyes that smile no more the unreturnng
! feet.'
Harriet II. Thompson, Department President
The Nations Memorial Day once more draws
near Again it is our privilege TO unite with the
| Grand Army of the Republic in showing honor to
| the memory of their fallen comrades. AS with
reverent hands and loving hearts place
offerings their graves, let dedicate anew our
| services to the loved ones they have left TO our
care. We would recommend that each Corps in
the Department OF Indiana consecrate floral offer
| ing to the memory of Laura Montgomery Henry,
| Past Department Aid and President OF Winchester
| Corps, Gosport, who called 10 eternal rest
March &c, 1889. We hold her service TO the w re.
| in loving OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES MyerhoH, De-
| partment President of Indiana.
/ Let no Grand Army Post in the Department. of
Wisconsin have to ask for aid III the work. but let
| each Corpssay to its head, I'VE will provide what
is needed for decoration. The sacrifices these men
| made saved country and home in which to rear
our young" Let us, therefore, teach our sons and
daughters to lead the way. Let us also remember
to add little to the fund of that Post in Richmond
| which, under the leadership of Past Senior Vice
| Commander Allen, decorates each year the graves
of 5000 comrades who laid down to die on South
ern soit Let every loyal woman bring ut least
one flower For the widowed wives aid broken
hearted mothers the cross may never turn TO one
Life has its mysteries and this is one,
But coming years will make II plain
| When life is DONE"
| Caroline IL. Bell Department President of
! Wisconsin.
| ice by gathering and srewing the flowers. Teach
their young hearts to value the sacrifice the soldiers
have made and nstill into their minds reverence
for Memorial Day. "Inculeate lessons of patriot
/ ism and love of country among our children and
in the communities in which we live" on this
Memorial Day, 1889, the centennial year of our
| National existence, in such manner that those
lessons will live long after we have entered the
| haven of rest.-Dehah beaverton, Department
| President of Illinois.
Memorial Day, with its sad yet pleasant duties is
near at hand, and while we as an auxiliary to the
| Grand Army should never assume to take the lead
in the work that seems almost too sacred for other
hands than those of the old veterans to do the De-
| partment President especially asks every member
| of the w re. in this Department to answer to the
call ofthe comrades TO help in this their blessed
work. Let there be flowers in abundance and
great should be taken in arranging them,
and given to the comrades as fresh possible.
The school children should be invited to gather
flowers and take part in the exercises of the day
it may teach them lessons of loyalty and patriotism
that will make them better citizens in the years to
eome-Lyda A. George, Department President OF
Minnesota.
Far hack in aoes past even beyond the time from
whence we have any certain records it was the
custom of the aneients to srew flowers the
graves of their dead heroes. This beautiful rite
has continued to be observed by the Inhabitants OF
all nations the barbarous well the civilized,
to greater less extent. But of all the nations of
the earth. America alone has as nation, deemed
the custom one OF sufficient importance to become
recognized as a Holy one, and by legal enact
ment has dedicated one day of each recurring year
to be devoted to decorating the graves of those who
died that country might live and to eulogiZing
their devotion to duty, and singing songs COM
memorative of their gallantry and patriotism.
8 In all cases it is to be hoped that the sery-
ices of the day be solemn and reverent becometh
those who stand at the graves of their own dead
Belle G. Harris Department President of Kansas.
/ As weave the chapletS and crown with I'M
mortelles own loyal dead, let us call to remem-
brance those who fell in that far Southern land
whose soil is enriched by the blood of thousands OF
patriots Their graves are unmarked and uu-
caredf for and though they sleep in land of flowers
no garland or blossom adorns their quiet resting
place. Let prepare tribute of gratitude for the
unknown dead, who stood bulwark of defense
between our homes and ruin in that memorable
struggle for the life of our Nation. And while we
tenderly remember the dead ut rest within own
borders and on distant battleelds let for the
l-iR,r Il gtaffar xnln