Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-31
heroes GONE BEFORE
Impressive and Appropriate
Observance of Decoration
Day in Fairhaven
Eloquent Addresses by Major
Wilkin, James A. Kerr and
Fl. Y. Thompson
SUI,
Off Presented to the Larrabee
ter
iy:hool by Junior Order of
American Mechanics

Decoration Day was fttingY observed
by the old soldiers living on Bellingham
. Bay. The day was perfect; from "a cloud
less sky the sun shed its rays of brilliancy
aad warmth. AS the old veterans tramped
side by side through the streets to the
mournful strains of dirge, the spectators
who lined the sidewalks seemed to par
take Of the feelings that animated the
the veterans, and their appearance was
greeted with mingled feelings of rever-
ence and gratitude. One fact was strik-
! ingly apparent as the old veterans passed
along, and that was that their number
was tIinning very rapidly, and that those
remaining were past the prime OF life.
Their wrinkled faces ana grey hairs gave
evidence of the ravages Of time.
Promptly at l2 O'Clock the members OF
Coleman X. Apperson post No. 80, OF Fair
haven, met at their hall on Larrabee
avenue and Tenth streets, and from there
marched out Eleventh street, where they
met j. B. Stedman post, Of New What
com. the Sons Of Veterans and~Junior
order Of United Mechanics. The New
sWhatcOm delegation brought with them
them the Carpenters band, and immedi-
a.ely behind the band was hearse ele-
glntly draped and filled with ilowers and
drawn by two cOal-black horses. The
procession formed on Eleventh street and
Mil avenue In the following order:
f'Captain Smith, marshal OF the day;
\ 'Etrpenters band, hearse, Coleman X. APP
r prison post, j. B. Steadman post. Junior
oder United American Mechanics, Camp
6 Sons Of Veterans"
The procession marched along Eleventh
. Harris TO Twelfth to Donovan, to the
IDights Of Pythias pavilion, where the
l,te5ry program Of the day was to take
The Ladies' Relief Corps had taken
c1arge of the pavilion and the result was
tie speakers stand was handsomely
decorated, while everywhere the work OF
tie ladies was apparent. To the left OF
tie platform monument composed OF
e,ergreens and flowers had been erected,
while at its top banner was suspended,
On which was Inscribed: ITO the Memory
!. oithe Unknown Dead" The monument
attracted universal attention, and many
O the pieces and designs composed en-
trely Of flowers were extremely beaBiful.
Iillows, crosses, anchors, broken columns,
AID bouquets were scattered over the
monument in profusion.
For the first time the pavilion was
tXed 10 It's capacity, the building being
cemfortably filled when Mai ior Ell VIII
Nm, as president Of the day, announced
tae commencement Of the exercises. After
adirge by the band the vast audience
Sose and an eloquent prayer was offered
BY Rev. l.. w. Applegate. Major Wilkin
then delivered the following eloquent ad-
dress:
We are not here to mourn for the dead
we are here TO honor the memory of our
} couptry's dead, who were our country S
defeIders. Their acts are written upon
, feeddm's imperishable scroll. We can
ado nothing TO their fame. We rejoice
that our country did, and can, produce
such exalted examples Of patriotism as
Afell into line at the call OF Abraham Lin
' coin. We realize the immense loss In
voved in the sacrifices made and endured
by these men. We appreciate the heroic
spirit which animated them In rendering
! their lives that this nation might live.
"a OF the 2.675,OO0 men called out by the
president 10 suppress the rebellion, the
recent census found but l.2000O0 still liv-
ing. Ii Is TO this immense army Of the
y dead that our thoughts are directed to.
4. day We are grateful that the results OF
the sacrifices Of these loYal men have beer
so full and so ar-reaching In the cause OF
humanity and good government.
BY reason of these sacrifices. sixty
three millions Of people IN our land are
today enjoying the blessings Of liberty
and free government more fully than any
people on earth. The acts Of these men gave
such an impetus 10 the spirit OF freedom
as the world had never before seen. This
all civilized nations. 1t caused the impe
rial standards TO fall in Mexico, France
and Brazil. II modified monarchca
ideas and increased the tendencies to free
: dom in all the governments among civ
-'Ilized people. II enlivened the spirit o.
liberty In every land.
Through IL, education has been more
III gene eTously provided for and carried for
VAR more universally than at any tint
M NlNBorld's history. Wealth and thi
l. -. .lTN -
Y4,t our land, have Increased 10 an eX
tent never dreampt OF by the fathers o
the republic The rights OF labor wer
never so universally recognized nor toll 81
well rewarded.
Tbe people in every walk Of life hav
grown In Independence and self-relianc
and are better able TO assert and maintain
their rights than at any former age
These are not all the results flowing from
Il the achievements and sacrifices OF thes
y men. They dismantled secession, wipe
III out treason, handed down the nag with
ont a star erased and made IT, IN FACI
the banner OF freedom-the hope of Tn
Impressed of all lands. BY their cOnstanc
and devotion they developed heroes. iron
among their number, whose names an
fame will live while history lasts. We ar
4 . epioying the sunshine that followed th
~ clouds these men disspated. While cart
"a and sunshine bring flowers, lovers OF free
dom will lay them upon their grave,
Their dust Shall be kept sacred, thei
p resting place as hallowed ground.
Al the conclusion Of Major Wilkins re
mayks the audience under the leadershi
of W. John Black rendered the hymn
s'Nearer My God 10 Thee" Mr.. james a
Kerr was then introduced and delivere
the following Grafton. During the DC
livery Of the address Mr.. Kerr was fro
ouently interrupted by applause and q
& It's conclusion the assemblage gave evl
dence Of It's appreciation OF the eloquen
effort by vigorous stamping OF feet an
:. clapping OF hands.
Corps. Members OF the G.. A. r.; Ladie