Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-06-06
Memorial Day.

lnlTlE years dPo tnlS ~ atloh moo oh tht
verge of civil war; the Southern States
were seeding one after another, q Con-
federate Government had been organized, |
the National flag flying over Fort Sumpter |
in Charleston harbor had been fred upon,
the President had called for men, and in |
every Northern city, town and village |
companies were being enlisted and sent to |
their respective rendezvous, where they |
preston of the rebellion and the main |
tenance OF the Union, while in the South |
ern States the same thing was being done
for the opposite purpose.
Everybody was excited and nothing but
war was talked of, yet nobody surmised
that the struggle was to be as long, as
bloody and as expensive as it proved to be.
For four long years the war ragged with
varying fortunes, but towards the end of
1864 the resources of the Southern States
were exhausted and next Spring their only
remaining army under General Lee sur
rendered to General Grant at Appomattox.
Thousands of men died on the fields of
battle, and thousands more in hospitals
and prisons. Husbands, sons, fathers and
brothers who went to the army never re-
turned and no one knows their last resting
places.
1t was to keep these dead in memory
that Memorial Day was established and
for the same purpose it is maintained.
Each succeeding Memorial Day wit
nesses the decoration of the graves of those
who lived through the war and died at
home, or whose bodies were brought home
from the battle-felds or hospitals, and a
military procession in their honor.
The procession this year in Butler was
led by Major Reed and his staff, followed
by the Grand Army Band, Soldiers Or
phans Home Band, A. G. Reed Post, G.
r re. Old veterans, the military company,
and the junior order of American Work
men.
They formed in front of the Court House
and marched to the Orphans Home, and
were there seated on and around the front
porch, in the shade of the trees.i The
band played some fine selections, the
pupils of the Home sang America and
Orally round the flag" and then the COM
pany listened to what was pronounced the
best Memorial Day address ever delivered
in Butler.
Col Jackson, of New Castle, was the
speaker, and having been soldier himself
he knew whereof he spake, and he spoke
feelingly and intelligently.
He began by recalling the dead, who, he
said, gave everything for their country,
while the others were spared to come back
and enjoy life, even those who lost near
relatives in the war were hurt worse than
those who were spared to return; the
Northern soldiers were devoted to the flag
and did not need particular leaders to
enable them to fight well; one wounded
soldier begged shred of the regimental
battle flag from him before being sent
home; we remember those who fell IN
battle as young men while those who re-
turned and yet live have grown gray; the
North was eternally right and the South
was eternally wrong; the children should
be taught the import of the war for the
Union, and speaking of the pension laws
he said that no man who fought for his
country should be allowed to die pauper.
He spoke for about forty minutes and was
heartily applauded by the veterans present
at several points
Rev. Prugh followed in some remarks
regarding the Orphan Schools, and thinks
the State should yet make provision for the
children of disabled veterans.
That afternoon the Junior Order of
American Mechanics presented the Home
with handsome flag. They marched up
to the Home led by the Germania Band,
J. NJ Maxwell presided, the presentation
speech was made by Miss Mary Ayres and
the response by Mrs. Smith, one of the
teachers; the children sang "Unfurling of
the flag" during which the new flag was
hoisted over the school building, and al
together it was very pleasant affair.
S. F. Bowser, Esq, spoke at Petrolia on
Memorial day, Capt. Fleeger at Prospect
Lev McQuistion, Esq. at Centreville, and
and Newton Black, Esq, at Grove City.
The Capt. VIM. Stewart Post, G.. A. R.
marched from Evans City to Brownsville,
that day, were addressed by NJ. B. Dou-
THEFT and Capt. R. 1. Boggs and given
dinner by the ladies of the town. Then
they marched back to Evans City where
they were addressed by d. B. Douthett,
Esq. ca request to publish detailed ac-
count of the proceedings there came to us
after our columns were full.