The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-31


rejoicing Of our friends on our return,
and our rejoicing in being permitted 70
sec them, the many who met us with
such longing looks for those they iain
would see, but who cameHnot2 Don't
you remember the brave boys who went
into battle with us and who fell right by
our side, and whom we were forced to
leave, buried at Gettysburg, at Ante'
tam, In the Shenandoah, around Rich
mond and in the southwest Do you
remember how your rejoicings were
mixed with sadness when forced to meet
that father .or that mother whose boy
had been entrusted to your care, but
who came not back with your This was
my experience with two us brave boys
as ever drew q saber In defence OF home
and native land, One was left sleeping
in IN unknown grave in Shenandoah's
fair valley, while the other, killed right
by my side at Kearnstown, now rests In
the homo cemetery, | was forced to
meet those parents on my return, and
although l could assure them that their
sons fell fighting with their iaces to the
foe, how hollow such words 10 the striCk-
en- hearts when they could behold the
JOY OF others meeting their loved ones,
1t Is TO commemorate the deeds Of the
dead that we meet to-day. tits to place
q fresh flower on the gaaves Of those we
loved so well, and as We do 1t, let us
swear anew fealty to that flag for which
they offered up their bright, young
lives, How impressive the scenes taxi
Ing place all over our land to-day, Old
veterans, their sous, old age and youth,
arc gathered at every cemetery where
rests the remains OF u Comrade Of the
late war, and the bright flowers OF spring
are being scattered in great profusion
and with lavish hand, We not only
commemorate the death OF those who
died in battle, but every year since tho
strife ended thousands have been added
to the long list Of fallen heroes, and we
do honor to their memory as well, and
we strew flowers on their graves, Yes,
flowers arc strewn on many graves for
the first time to-day. The rose and the
lily as they fall from the hands Of our
comrades and cover the little mound
that marks the spot where lies all that
is left Of the dead hero, gives forth a
fragrance typical OF the incense OF the
offering they gave 10 their country.
Their freshness and their beauty are fit
emblems OF the country for which they
died, and as these flowers fade solvent
out the lives Of those whose deeds We
celebrate.
This, comrades, is surely "a day for
memory and for tears" AS you perform
this sad, but pleasing duty, and you
strew flowers on the grave Of perhaps q
messmate, how his form comes up be.
fore you again, and you think OF him rs
you cannot, or as you do not wish Ia
think at any other time. Wife, Gs you
plant rose to-day on the grave OF the
husband OF your youth, does 1t not do
you good TO know that no was one Of
that grand army which made 1t possible
for us to enjoy what we do to-day
that grand army OF men who from Fort
sumpter TO AppomRtsox, performed
deeds otvalor, endured bardships, fought
battles, and gained victories the like Of
which the world never dreamed before
That grand army that saved our flag
and made US the foremost nation
on the earth. Father, as you strew
flowers over the grave Of that
noble boy, whose young lifC
went out that bis country might
live, be consoled with the thought that
you are the father OF a hero. Son, as
you drop the rose or the lily ON the
grave OF that father, who either fell in
battle or has since died, though the
duty is sad one, thank God that you
are that fathers son, and in the act, con
secrate yourself 10 the same duty II your
country ever needs the sacrifice, And
let us all, as We strew flowers over the
graves Of our honored dead, reConse.
crate ourselves to the great work OIL
making our country better as the years
60 by. Let US remember that eternal
vigilance is the price OF liberty-that
although our country was saved by the
deeds Of those whose memory we re,
we're to-day, its prosperity, Its continued
greatness and future progpepts all do.
pend upon a good citizenship, and that
1t behoovcs us rs men to sec To 1t that
the young are trained in the true spirit
OF loyalty, that this great government
may not perish from the earth.
In concluding he said:
"And now, comrades, our sad but
| pleasing duty will soon. be ended.
Again We have said that our sleeping
comrades are not forgotten. We have
again woven fresh garlands and are
about to place them above the sleeping
dust OF those with whom we Camped,
with whom we marched, and with whom
we bore the brunt OF battle. Let the
lessons this day teaches DO not forgot
ten. Let us rebuke any and all who talk
OF civil war again, and let US instil into
the minds Of our children by these pre-.
Cious acts on each annual return Of this
day that civil war must be an impossible.
ity. Many OF US may perform this act
for the last time to-day. Ere another
Decoration Day comes we may lie
with our sleeping comrades and
friends may strew flowers over our
graves. For the boys are growing old.
We are young no more, as when we went
forth to battle. The frosts OF many win.
ters are whitening on nearly all our
brows, and year by year We will have 10
answer the roll call Of death. Let us so
live that when the summons comes, 1t
may find us ready, and that tho sum.
mons may he 10 come up higher to serve
the Great Commander Of tho Universe.
May 1t be said OF each OF us when that
time comes: He has fought good eight;
he has done what he could. And now
we leave our dead comrade, until anoth-
er year rolls round, and the fresh flow.
era Of another spring bloom for them.
And as we thus leave them how appro.
pirate to say OF them: '
"Here rest tho great and good, here
they repose after their generous toll, "A
sacred band they take their sleep to.
gether, while the year comes with It's
early flowers 10 deck their graves, and
gathers them again as winter flowers.
Theirs Is no vulgar sepulCher. Green
sods are all their monuments; and yet
1t tells a nebler history than pillared
piles on the eternal pyramid. They need
no statue nor inscription to reveal their
greatness. It Is round them and the
10y with which their children tread the
hdllowed ground that holds their yen.
Grated bones, the peace that smiles on
all they fought for, and the wealth that
clothes the land they rescued-thCse,