The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
Soloists' 8mo9et.
Memorial Day.

The COMMUNICATIVE has just
issued general order No. %, which re-
lates to Memorial day. tits as follows:
us that Memorial day with its time-hon-
pred observance is near at hand. Regu-
lations are so explicit upon this subject
that no formal order urging this sacred
duty upon the posts is necessary. For
the twenty third time since the Both OF
May was designated for this purpose by
Comrade Logan, then communicating
chief, it is our privilege to render spe-
cial homage to the memory OF our COM
rades who answer to roll.call on earth
no more, to pledge ourselves anew in
united and solemn chorus to the great
principles for which they died, and for
the perpetuation of which this mighty
order is now maintained. Let no grave
be unvisited, no comrade forgotten,
and as our children and children's chill
dren shall ask, What mean ye by this
service?" let us point them to the sac
rifices of our comrades whom death has
mustered out forever. and whose devo-
ton to duty made possible his golden
era of our nation, which to-day under
one flag is marching on to its glorious
destiny; future assured to this and
the coming generations by the conflicts
and victories of the period which this
day recalls and signalizes. Standing
by these sacred mounds, let us urge that
never, while the flowers shall wake to
life, while the released waters shall
course from the mountains to the sea,
while the emancipated earth shall with
each returning spring wave its banners
of green, shall these memorial services
be unperformed or the achievements
they celebrate be forgotten. Let the
day be in no manner diverted from its
true purpose, but let it be made to teach
to the fullest extent its great lesson of
patriotism. Post commanders are re-
minded that their arrangements for
Memorial day should invariably in
clude attendance by the post in body
upon some form of divine worship upon
the preceding Sunday. This custom
has become, and deservedly 30, very
general, and its appropriateness and
desirability are apparent. Some min
lister of the gospel should be invited to
deliver suitable sermon upon this &C.
casion, and posts should, if practicable,
appear in uniform and display their
badge and colors, striving in every re.
spect to render this a fitting prelimin-
airy to our great annual observance. In
some departments the custom prevails
of having the school children cooper
ate, the session of school preceding
Memorial day being devoted to pat
riotic teachings emphasized by the
presence at each school of some COM
rade of the order, and the children
asked to share in providing flowers for
the following day, and assured that in
so doing they become directly identi-
fed with the praiseworthy service of
Memorial day. 1t is recommend that
post commanders, so far as possible,
detail comrades who in uniform may
appear before each school and briefly
suggest action as above. All posts will
make special reports of the day on or
before June 10 to department chap
lains, who will consolidate the same
and report to Comrade Myron W. Reed,
chaplain-in- chief, at Denver, COL, not
later than June 20. Post commanders
will be held responsible for these re-
ports, and they should be promptly
rendered."