Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-06-05
WILMINGTON.


The Memorial Day ObserVahce'
On Sunday, May "a, the Grand Army
post and Woman's Relief corps attended
services at the Universalist church, Rev.
f. W. Pierce preaching an able and lifting
sermon Memorial day, Saturday, at about
1890 A. NJ, the procession was formed III
front of Grand Army hall in order as an
nounced two weeks ago. Proceeding to the
Vermont House, Col. G.. W. Hooker ora
tor of the day and G. d. Spencer, presi-
dent of the day. were escorted to the Meth
odist church. where the exercises were held.
As Introductory the quartet Mr.. and Mrs.
J. II. Kidder. Mrs. G. NJ. Russell and \. NJ.
johnson. sang "Noble souls, the boys in
blue" Rev Mr. Mckenzie offered prayer
and the quartet sang another selection.
The president of the day made appropriate
remarks and introduced Col. Hooker in hit
ting words. aluding i'm felicitous words to
/ the Colonels military record, tracing ms
/ promotion from rank to rank during ms
/ four years of service. and graphically rclat-
inc the incident of Cold Harbor where Col.
/ Hooker was so severely wounded. 1t is
needless to say that the orator. words were
earnest and appropriate, and were listened
to with undivided attention 10y the audience
which filled the house Col Hooker pam
a glowing tribute to the citizen soldiery, to
the men who fought. not for lucre but for
[ love of country. The same spirit that act
uated the men of '7G nerved the volunteer
of 81. They fought not to subjugate
Americans but to unfetter Americans: not
for fame hut for freedom; not for conquest
but for union. Sef-sacritcng devotion to
country. love of liberty and equality were
the animating impulses of the men who
marched away to the rebellion borders from
Northern homes. The speaker paid de-
served tribute to his old commander. zen.
Stannard, and spoke words of eulOgy in re-
gard to the Vermont brigade that stood so
heroicallv upon the bloody field of Gettys-
burg At the conclusion of the Grafton,
which was only too brief, the quartet sang
most effectively. "Shed a tear" Post Com
mander c. NJ. Russell then addressed the
audience, stating that in response to an in
vitation extended to him Mr. Spencer had
consented to write poem for the occasion,
which Mr. Russell then read. Failing
into line was the closing selection, after
which Rev. Mr.. Skinner pronounced the
benedction. Proceeding to the cemetery
the ritualistic ceremonies were observed in
proper FORM and the graves of comrades
were suitably decorated with flowers. Rev.
Mr. Pierce pronounced the benediction and
the procession moved to the place OF start
ing After doing full Justice to a bOuntiful
collation. provided by the Relief corps. the
comrades and friends repaired TO their
homes feeling that the day had been one
most profitably spent in reviving hallowed
rememhrances of the patriotic dead. 1t
should be said that the band discoursed
most excellent music during the day.
Thanks are due and are hereby extended
to the Methodist society for the use of their
church and to all other, who contributed to
the success of the occasion.
Following is the main portion of Mr..
Spencers poem
, WHY WE OBSERVE THE DAY.
1t was a day Of quiet peace,
OF happy JOY. Of rest creme;
No darkened shadow IN IN" scene.
But over all the sunshine fell:
/ Even sorrow had quick release
And all was we'll
And yet not all. from southern cline
There came the sound Of gathering strife.
P With mutterings Of passions rife:
A cloud no larger than the hand.
menace to a country's prime,
/ \ danger 20 the land
And treason with her bloody hand
With lowering brow and unsheathed knife,
Began To- seek a nation Is life
- And threatened she would have her will.
And call To roll of ner slave bands
On Bunker Hin
The dark clouds gathering as they rolled.
= A. length there came "a binding Hash.
, The smoke Of traitors guns, the crash,
The lurid glare the breath Of he'll.
The chill Of death. the palor cold
And Sumter fell.
q 4 mom,u, from the blow r,.coleI
b. The nation stool half blinded d.tled,
Stunned pallor-stricken and amazed;
And then the cry. To arms TO arms
The deadly traitors must h. foiled '
Reached 10 our farms
Upspriugng then from hill and vale
From farm. and shop and store.
1 Tn thousand thrice ten thousand more
i Vermont brave SONS together stood.
i With men like these right must prevail.
Though long withstood.
g From East and West and frozen North
/. Men came by thousands nj her call.
And yet there Camr among them all
None drawer than Vermont $ trle sons
10 None were more ready to stand forth
p, And face the guns.
We JOY today 70 call them brave.
And vet not Drawer were the men
r Who died in field or prison pen,
Who faced the cannons' fierce breath
Who went, their country life 10 save
e To certain death,
Than those who said to them goodbye:
u Wife. mother. sister. friend.
d Who joyed their bestowed ones TO send;
Glad thar they thus might sacrifice
With heavy burdens, cen would die
i That truth might rise.
5, Gathered today 10 think once NOR.
d 0t those who BLEED IN Freedom name,
We place the green of living fame
- Upon the graves of heroes dear.
p With flowers, the emblem OF our love
The silent tear.
II The day is sacred to the dead:
Forever let us keep it 50;
With voices hushed and drum beat low.
j. That We may think the earnest thought.
Remembering thus the blood they shed
Which Freedom bought