The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-31
FLOWERS FOR THE BLUE.
FEDERAL DECORATION DAY GEN
ERALLY OBSERVED.

ERALLY OBSERVED.
A Big Procession at the Nations Capt.
tal-A Flag and Flowers Placed on
the Graves of 10000 Sleeping
soldiers-All the Monuments in the
City Bedecked With Garlands.
WASHINGTON, May 30.-Memorial serv>
ices were held in many Of the churches of
the district yesterday. and patriotism was
the theme Of the discourses. The congrega-
tions were characteristic ones, being COM
posed in large part of veterans of the war.
At st. Dominic's church Rev. Father
Eagan, who served throughout the war as
chaplain in the army of the Potomac, asked
the members Of his congregation to procure
for him a wreath OF flowers that he might,
in company with his comrades Of Rawllns'
post, place 1t on the grave Of his honorable
commander, the noble and gallant soldier.
the bravest of the brave, the late lamented
Gen. Phil Sheridan. "This son Of an Irish
laborer )" said Father Esgan, "has paid in
his patriotism, in his skill as a general, In
his love for American institutions, great
part Of the debt of gratitude due by
the Irish TO the United States
government and its people for
their good will aud hospitality rendered to
us when we were driven from the homes
we loved so we'll by unjust laws made by
greedy, british and pertdious Englishmen,
without giving those for whom the laws
were made even q voice TO represent
them."
MONDAY OPENS RAINY.
disappointment was on every face early
this morning, for the weather was cloudy
and threatening and rain fell gently at In
tervals, but later the sun broke through the
clouds and there was nothing to interfere
with the patriotic and solemn ceremonies of
the day. Extensive preparations for deco
rating the graves had been made by the va
rious military organizations. 1t was no
small undertaking, for in the numerous
cemeteries about the city are fully 10000
graves of union soldiers, each one Of which
was deemed worthy OF tribute of a flag
hail storm of last Thursday
wrought fearful havoc in the flower gardens
and the citizens generally were appealed to
to come forward with floral offerings for
the occasion. Besides paying attention to
the graves the Memorial day committee
had all the statues of soldier heroes about
thu city decorated, and the results of their
morning. There are no less than thirteen
Of these statues scattered throughout the
city.
AT THE CEMETERIES.
The most elaborate ceremonies at the
cemeteries were those at Arlington. Before
the service there, however, eighteen grand
army posts in the city portion of the Dis
trtct of Columbia. the National Guarda,
Old Guards, and other independent military
companies formed in the vioinity of the
grand army hall, and to inspiring and
patriotic music OF the Marine band, marched
through the city to the Aqueduct bridge
spanning the river above West Washing
ton. Here the parade WAS dis
missed and those who desired
to go to Arlington proceeded on their way.
When they arrived at the cemetery the
procession, consisting of members OF the
grand army, women's relief corps, ex-sol-
diers and sailors, invited guests and the
public, formed in front of the Arlington
mansion. Headed by the Marine hand the
procession marched to the tomb OF the "un-
known" where, haltIng, the band played
dlrge and the tomb was decorated. The
march was then continued by the main road
TO the cemetery proper. Here the process
sion separated and It's members proceeded
with the decoration OF individual graves
When the decoration of all the graves had
bOOh SoaARAObCU blAC pAOSCoblOiI anu
marched TO tho amphitheater, where the
exercises of the day were held, consisting of
musical programme rendered by the
Mozart Club and Marine band, and an ora
ton by Gen. Hastings of Pennsylvania.
Over Gen. Porter's grave was placed mag
ni1cent floral warship, one OF the hand
somest productions of the florists art ever
seen in Washington. 1t was borne In the
parade through the city by Potomac Lodge
OF Naval Veterans.
Similar services were held and ceremonies
observed at the Soldiers Home cemetery :,
the Congressional cemetery, Anacostia
cemetery, Logan's tomb and other places of
burial where lie the remains OF union
soldiers. Mount Vernon also had many
visitors, who brought flowers for the tomb
of Washington.
As far as heard from good weather pre-
vailed to-day throughout the country, and
it would seem that greater preparations had
been made for Memorial day than ever
before, for the dispatches record universal
observance throughout the entire north.
The favoring weather contributed to make
the outdoor ceremonies unusually i'm
pressive and successful. The great cities
outdid their previous efforts, but the rural
communities at their country graveyards
were not forgetful of their dead. The
stories OF the day are much alike. New
York and Brooklyn had the advantage of
numbers and greater opportunities for dis
play, but other large centers Of population
acquitted themselves with equal credit.