Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-04-06
DECORATION DAY.

Department. Commander Kelley Issues =
General Order In Regard to the Observ-
ance of Decoration Day.
Commander Kelley, of the G. A. r /,
has issued a general order in regard to
the observance of memorial day, as
follows:
soth day of May was set apart and designated
as the day upon which to strew with flowers or
Otherwise decorate the graves Of comrades
VINO 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. 1868 during the ad-
ministration of Comrade John A. Logan as
commander-in-chief Of the Grand Army of the
Republic, the first order was issued upon this
subject In this order the commandment chief
said: 1T is the purpose of the commander in
chief to inaugurate this observance with the
hope that it will be kept up from year to year,
while survivor Of the remains to honor
the memory of his departed comrades"
Since this first order was issued, nearly
mlll1on OF the men who defended the flag of
their country and by their valor preserved the
union from destruction have been mustered out
OF the army of this life and mustered into the
LIE that Is to be So that when this custom is
observed now about half of the old grand
army, who from 1851 to 1865 were the heroic de-
lenders or liberty and union, pay their tribute
OF love to 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 custom received
general recognition and the hope expressed by
the coLnmander-fn- chief that it would be kept
up from year to year has been fully realized.
This is now legal holiday, and is gen.
orally observed as such than any other day in
the year.
Indeed, the custom has become so general
that 1t has ceased to be confined to the Grand
Army OF the Republic, and when the comrades
go 10 the quiet church-yard TO place beautiful
mowers 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 occas sion to send a
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 to bloom with the rarest and loveliest
MOVERS BY this act we take the most JDeauti-
full nantes tation of God in nature the most
perfect expression of love and sympathy. flow
ers, and bear them to the last resting place of
our comrades When these fowers are depos-
1ted upon their graves, 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 to honor the memory OF
our departed comrades This is the reason the
custom has grown universal, and follow
ing dictates OF our hearts, in conformity with
this beautiful custom, will on the 30th of
May next observe memorial day.
Inc 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 its
principles, should be invited to participate in
the memorial day exercises. Let 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
ucipaIing in the exercises should hold only. in
the mind and heart the brave deeds and noble
sacrifices of 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 encampLnent 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
dav, which posts should attend in body: also,
that Il special report of memorial day services
should be made out by the post commander and
forwarded 10 the department chaplain, Comrade
r H Sparks. Pittsburg, Kan, within fifteen
days after May 3d. No blanks are used for this
report, but it should be complete and full re-
port OF what occurred, neatlt and plainly writ
enjoin upon all post commanders the careful
observance of this day ana ii proper report
thereof u sacred duty, which ought to be
held by ever one of them and by every COM
race of the Grand Army OF the Republic as an
inestimable privilege.