People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-04-07
DECORATION DAY.

Department Commander Kelley Issues
General Order in Regard to the Observ-
ance of Decoration Day.
AQuarter Of q century has passed since the
10Th day of May was set apart and designated
IS the day upon which to strew with flowers or
otherwise decorate the graves Of comrades
who died in defense Of their country during the
late rebellion, and whose bodies lie in almost
every city village and hamlet church-yard IN
the land
On the 5th day OF May. 1853 during the I'D.
ministration OF Comrade John A Logan as
commanderin-chief Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, the first order was issued upon this
subject In this order the commander-inchiei
said: 1T is the purpose Of the COMMANDMENTS
chief 10 inaugurate this observance with the
hope that it will be kept up from year 10 year,
while a survivor OF the war remains 10 honor
the memory Of his departed comrades"
Since this first order was issued, nearly
million Of the men who defended the flag Of
their country aud by their valor preserved the
union from destruction have been mustered OUT
Of the army Of this life and mustered into the
life that is 10 be So that when this custom il
observed now about one-hai Of the old grand
army, who from 1861 10 1865 we're the heroic do
tenders Of liberty and union, pay their tribute
OF love 10 the other half who are on the other
side Of the dark river that separates this world
from the mystic land OF eternal peace From
the date OF the first order, this Gust ON received
general recognition and the hope expressed BY
the commander-in-c chief that it would be kept
up from year 10 year has been fully realized.
This is now legal holiday, and is more gen
nhe ou nv nfh ar Hat In
the year.
Indeed, the custom has become so general
that it has ceased TO be confined to the Grand
Army of the Republic, and when the comrades
90 10 the quiet church-yard 10 place beautiful
flowers upon the graves of their departed com
rades, the citizens generally accompany them,
and fathers, mothers sisters and brothers Of
the kindred dead take this occasion to send
message Of love TO their dear departed by strew
Ing flowers upon their graves. There never
was more touching and beautiful ceremony
than this simple act OF meeting together and
causing the graves OF departed heroes and
friends 10 bloom with the rarest and loveliest
flowers. By this act We take the most beauti.
full NANTES tation Of God in nature, the most
perfect expression OF love and sympathy, flow.
ers, and bear them 10 the last resting place of
our comrades When these flowers are depos.
TIED upon their graves, we send, by this act to
them our choicest messages OF love and honor,
and this We do not only from sense Of duty.
but because We love 10 honor the memory OF
our departed comrades This is the reason the
custom has grown so universal and follow.
ing dictates Of our hearts, in conformity with
this beautiful custom, We will on the SOth Of
May next observe memorial day.
The Grand Army Of the Republic, the Won
ans Relief corps, the Ladies OF the G. A r, the
Sons Of Veterans the Ladies' Aid society, and
all other organizations in aid Of the Grand
Army Of the Republic and in sympathy with It's
principles, should be invited to participate in
the memorial day exercises. lie. no pride OF
organization mar the perfect accord which
should exist in the observance Of this day, but
let each organization take the place assigned it
by the committee OF arrangements. without
murmur or complaint, and each comrade per
ticipating in the exercises should hold only. in
the mind and heart, the brave deeds and noble
sacrifices Of our beloved comrades whom We
love to honor
All flags displayed on this day should be at
half-mast in accordance with the resolution Of
the national encampment Of 1873 On memorial
day flag should be hOisted over every school
house, and the children of the schools, accom-
panied by their teachers, should be especially
invited to participate in the parade and be
present at the memorial exercises The most
impressive, patriotic lessons TO the. young are
taught on this day.
Post commanders are reminded that arrange
ments should be made for special memorial
services on the Sunday proceeding memorial
da7, which posts should attend in a body; also,
that special report Of memorial day services
should be made out by the post commander and
forwarded TO the department chaplain, Comrsde
K H Sparks Pittsburg, Kan, within fifteen
days after May 81 No blanks are used for this
report, but it should be complete and full re-
port Of what occurred, neatly and plainly writ
ten, and should be forwarded without delay. 1
enloin upon all post commanders the careful
observance Of this day and proper report
thereof as sacred duty, which ought to be
held by every one Of them and by every com.
rade Of the Grand Army Of the Republic as an
inestimable privilege