The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1893-06-02
MEMORIAL SERVICES,
Decoration Day Observed by
Soldiers and Citizens.
The Largest Crowd Ever Present
at a Similar Occasion.
The New Town Hall Most An
prOpriately Dedicated.
TRIBUTE TQaDEAD HEROES.

The morning of Decoration day dawned
cloudy and quite cool, and rain was threatening
nearly all the morning. However at little
before IL O'Clock, noon, the clouds were part
tally pushed aside by Old Sol. who showed his
bright face at intervals, warming the atmos-
phere and thereby making humanity more
comfortable.
By noon the largest crowd had gathered
which was ever brought together by like
event in Hope. The hardy yeomanry of this
part Of the North state had nearly all finished
their spring season Of toll, and took this, their
drst holiday of the spring time, to visit our
pretty little town and pay their tribute to the
noble dead.
Inc exercises were commenced shortly after
one O'Clock by the band forming at the school
house and marching to the g. A, R. hall, there
to await the pleasure of that body, and to es-
cort them and the Sons of Veterans to the
Town Hall whore the exercises were to be
held, at the appointed time. leading them to
the time OF appropriate, patriotic strains of
music.
Upon tho arrival Of the Post and the Sons of
Veterans at the hall, the order from head quar-
ters was read, relative to the observance of the
day, by Commander Lang, who, after the ex-
ercise of "honorDg the dead" had been gone
through with by the Post and that b )dy seated,
made an excellent address to tho 'boys who
wore blue", and also neat little address of
welcome to the Sons Of Veterans who for the
first time had that day Joined them as q body
in the observance of the day.
After the address Of Commander Lang an
appropriate vocal selection was rendered by
the choir, after which an earnest prayer was
delivered by Chaplain Bstline of the Post,
when another stirring song was rendered by
the choir.
The next in order was a finely delivered
defamation by Miss Geneva King, which was
loudly applauded by the attentive audience.
Then followed the Grafton of the occasion
| by Rev. q. james, an address brimful and
| bubbling over with patriotism and deep
thought. Owing to the lack Of time and space
we are not permitted this week to reproduce
his address in type for the edidcation OF our
readers. but will promise to present the same
In full in next weeks issue. It is too good
too full Of closely and carefully connected
thought to allow Of synopsis, ard is too
valuable for the purpose of instilling patriotism
in the minds Of our readers to allow US to pass
it by unpublished, so wo promise it to our
readers in full next week.
At the close Of the reverend gontleman's g
address another beautiful song was rendered
by the choir, after which the procession was
formed In the order named in the published
program and march to the cemetery taken up
to the sound Of slow, sweet music by tho band
Upon the arrival at the cemetery the bsauti-
full ritual oyer the graves of their fallen COM
rades was observed by the post, after which
the narrow homes Of the silent but honored
dead were strewn with flowers-the emble1ns
of purity-the tributes which nil but speak the
love and reverence with which they are used.
After the flowers had been properly strewn a
volley was fired over the lowly mounds, after
which the procession took up the return march
for town, arriving just in time to escape a
wetting from slight shower Of rain, which
fell shortly after their return.
Altogether the services were the most
impressive and satisfactory eyer conducted in
our patriotic little town. and every body in
attendance felt that their time had been we'll
spent that day.