The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-06-04
THEIR GRAVES KEPT GREEN.
Very Impressive Ceremonies at the
Cemeteries.

| NOiy lmpIVboifC SOICiiOIiiOS ~ bhO
Cemeteries.
Memorial day passed Oft very quietly in
Wellington. 1t was remarked by some Of
the veterans that 1t did not seem much
like former Necoration days. Almost a
Sunday stiffness seemed to rest on the vii
lage. No doubt the dedication Of the
Garfield memorial bad much to do with
the quietness of the day here. Reports
from places not in the vicinity OF Cleve-
land show that the people of our land are
not so unmindtul OF the blessings which
they enjoy for 1855 days in the year that
they are unwilling to give few hours on
one day to keep alive the memory Of the
true men whose patriotism procured us
the blessing of stable government. Not
withstanding the fact that many Of our
village went to Cleveland, the graves of
the dead soldiers were not forgotten.
Contrary 10 the fears and predictions of
many the day, though warm, was pleasant.
Soon after one O'Clock the G. A. r. and S.
of " formed ranks at their hall and
marched to the town hall where they were
provided with flowers. They then
marched to the West cemetery, prayer
was offered and the token of remembrance
left on their comrades graves. They
then returned to the town hall where they
were Joined by the Relief Cops, band
of boys and girls from the school, and
other citizens. The procession then pro-
ceeded 10 the South cemetery. The
friends waited in the shade near the ceno-
taph until the q. A. r. had completed the
circuit of the cemetery, leaving their me-
MORALS.
No arrangement had been made for a
formal Grafton, but in addition to the ritu-
al services Rev. W. G, Dawson made an
earnest and appropriate address in which
he said, as he looked upon the Sons Of
Veterans they reminded him OF many Of
the companies which went out TO the war,
but little more than boys. They came
back 10 US, some with bearded. lips, some
with. their lips still in death A poem by
Will Carlton written expressly for Memo
rial services was read by Hiram
Gardner with pleasing effects.
One u the interesting features OF the day
was the singing OF the school children,
for which praise is due to Prof, Harding
who was present and led them.
The question is sometimes asked, will
not Memorial day be neglected after those
who were soldiers have passed away? II
the children Of the land are thus taught
that they have part and an interest in II,
II will not be allowed 10 decline. As we
looked upon the G. A. X. and the Sons Of
Veterans and the children, each engaged
in perpetuating the memory Of those who
were our benefactors, we recalled the story
Of the old Roman general who, when on
great procession day heard the old men
shout"we have been brave, ,"sighedland said,
"when they can no longer 20 10 battle, who
will take care Of the country" and then
the young men came In all thelhush Of
their noble manhood and said, Eve are
brave" The old man sighed and said,
"slas these too will. soon be gone, and who
will take care Of the country then" After
while II was said ''here comeSthe chill
dren.", And the old man leaned upon his
staff and listened TO catch their shout
Clear and loud II rang out, Eve will be
brave," and the old mans heart leaped,
and the cid fire flashed from his eyes as
he said, "it is enough; the country Is saie."
And so | thought l could hear the young
cheering the hearts Of the old veterans,
1--WE will remember" nor can we, as a
nation afford TO let perish the memory Of
those who saved for us our country. We
remember them, not so much for their
brave deeds as for what their sacrifices
did for us.
Only the day before our Memorial day
a monument was unveiled at Richmond 10
the memory Of one OF the greatest gen.
erals Of the Confederate army. The spirit
Of bitterness is dying out, and the time
has come when, viewed apart from the
cause for which he fought the heat Of
the North can respond to the glowing
tribute Of praise to Gen. Lee as a man and
his bravery as soldier, which was spoken
at the unwilling Of his memorial. But in
the struggle of duty TO nation or state he
made the wrong choice, and In the eyes OF
those who love their country the memory
of the humblest soldier who bore arms In
her defense demands greater honor Than
his. Let all good citizens join hands with
the @. A. r. to keep the day sacred 10 the
memory Of our country's defenders.