The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-06
MEMORIAL DAY.
Services in Various Parts of the Country.

Services in Various Parts OF the Country.
The ceremony of decorating the graves of the
Nations dead heroes was more generally OBJ
served this year than ever before Every ham
let, village town and city, where the graves
which contained the dust of the men who died
that the Union might endure were decorated
with flowers, aud ceremonies of an appropriate
character were held.
At the National Capital all the Government
Departments were closed, and all business,
both public and private, was suspended. The
GAR. Posts turned out in force, the Old
Guard veteran Organization) being their es-
cort, while the District Militia formed part
of the procession. Arlington Cemetery was
crowded with people who went there to do
honor to the dead heroes The day was beau
tifnl, somewhat too warm under the direct
rays of the sun, but occasional clouds drifted
beneath the blaze and tempered it, and in the
shade of the great trees there was a cool and
welcome breeze. The fresh green of the turf
above the graves was relieved by the bright
red of innumerable roses, and above some of
the mounds beneath which the bones of great
soldiers lay buried, banks of flowers completely
hid the grass from sight
The spot at which most people gathered was
the grave of Gen. Sheridan. The monument,
which had only just been placed in position,
was wrapped in United States flag, and only
the base Of it was visible.
MAJ lUlu Will 1-lSGG DdtbSEy
G, Sd u. S. Art, fired the National salute. The
Old Guard formed around the Sheridan monu-
ment; the Marine Band, at the foot of the
grave, played a dirge. and at its conclusion
COmrade B0gia pulled cord and the flag fell
from about the monument.
Revealed, it stood low, heavy shaft of pol
ished gray granite, plain, except upon the face
toward the city, and there medallion portrait
of Gen. Sheridan, encircled by a wreath of
1an-aie fiouy FOR h1eiY nd ha
whole of bronze. The Generals breast is deco
rated with the medals of the Orders to which
he belonged. The expression of the face is
strong and resolute, and the likeness is excel
lent Beneath is the single word, Sheridan"
in large letters of bronze. monument to Gen.
Paul was also unvailed at Arlington.
The other cemeteries IN the District were
also bouored by the attendance of many citi-
zens, and the graves Of the soldiers properly
and handsomely decorated.
President Harrison and Secretary Tracy at
tended the Memorial Day exercises in Brook
lyn, n. Y, and reviewed the procession from a
stand in Washington Park, and afterwards, es-
eorted by u. s. Grant Post, GAR, went to
Riverside Park and decorated the grave of Gen.
Grant. Among the prominent persons at Gen.
Grants tomb were Gen. Howard and Bishop
Fallows, of Chicago, H., both making adj
dresses.
There was also a great crowd at Gettysburg,
where the children of the public schools strew-
ed flowers over the graves Of the soldiers and
interesting speeches were delivered by John NJ.
Krautheyn aud Hon. Stewart L. Woodford.
The So Grand Army Posts of Philadelphia,
Pa, decorated the graves in % cemeteries To-
Gated in that city and adjoining Counties.
The most interesting Memorial ceremonies
were at Laurel Hill Cemetery, where George
@. Meade Post was assisted by Lafayette Post,
No. 100, of New York, aud they were accom-
panied to the cemetery by many prominent in
vited guests, notable of whom was Gen. Will
liam Z. Sherman. In the evening a banquet
was given which was attended by Gen. Sher-
man, Chauncey n. Depew, Gen. Noble, Secre-
! tary Of the Interior; Commissioner of Pensions
/ Tanner, and large number of prominent men
| from all parts of the country. Other cite:
| throughout the country suspended business
and decorated the graves of the dead soldiers