The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-30
MEMORIAL DAY IN KANSAS.

TOPEKA. Kan, March 29-Department
Commander Kelly Of the Grand Army of
| the Republic, in general order in refer
ence TO the proper observance Of Memorial
day, says:
"a quarter Of century has passed since
the 30th day of May was set apart and des
ignated as 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 lay in almost every city,
village and hamlet churchyard in the
land On the 5th day of May. 1868, dur
ing the administration of Comrade John
A. Logan as COMMUNICATIVE chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic. the first
order was issued upon this subject. In
this order the communicative chief said:
1t is the purpose of the commander-in-
chief to inaugurate this observance with
the hope that.ft will be kept up from year
to year, while survivor of the war re-
mains to honor the memory of his depart
ed comrades"
'Since this first order was issued, nearly
million 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 life that is
to be. So that when this custom is OBJ
served now, about one half of the old
Grand Army, who from 1861 to 1865 were
the heroic defenders of liberty and Union,
pay their tribute of love to the other half
who are on the other side of the dark river
that sepa rates this world from the mystic
land of eternal peace. From the date of
the first order, this custom received gen.
eral recognition and the hope expressed by
the commanderin-chief that it would be
kept up from year to year has been fully
realized This is now a legal holiday, and
Sc lu OH han
any other day in all 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
20 to the quiet church-yard to
place beautiful flowers upon the
graves of their departed comrades,
the citizens generally accompany
them, and fathers, mothers, sisters and
brothers of the kindred dead take this oc-
casion to send a message Of love to their
dear departed by strewing flowers upon
their graves. Tbere 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 lovli-
est flowers By this act we take the most
beautiful manifestation Of God in Nature,
the most pefect expression OF love and
sympathy, flowers, and bear them to the
last resting place of our comrades. When
these flowers are deposited 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 to honor the memory
of our departed comrades. This is the
reason the custom has grown 80 universal,
and following the dictates OF our hearts. in
conformity with this beautiful custom. we
will. on the Both day of May next, observe |
Memorial Day.
'The Grand Army Of the Republic, the
Womap's Relief Corps, the ladies OF the
Grand Army of the Republic. 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 per- |
feet accord which should exist in the OBJ |
servance of this day, but let each organi |
zation take the place assigned 1t by the |
conmittee of arrangements, without muir
muir or complaint and each comrade par
III the ceremonies should hold |
only. in the mind and heart, the brave
deeds and noole sacrifices Of our beloved
comrades whom we love 70 honor
''All flags displayed on this day should
be ut half mast in accordance with the |
resolution of the national encampment OF
1878 On Memorial Day flag should be
hoisted over every school mouse, and the
children OF the SCuOcis. dcCOm phuicu Dy
their teachers should be especially invited
to participate in the parade and be present
at the memorial exercises. The most i'm
pressive, patriotic lessons to the young are
taught on this day.
Post commanders are reminded that
arrangements should be made for special
services on the unday preced
ing Memorial Day, which posts should at
tend in a body: also, that q special report
of Memorial Day services should be made
out by the post commander and forward
I'd to the departments chaplain, Com rade
r. II. Sparks, Pittsburg, Kan, within fl
teen days after May 80. No blanks are
used for this report, but it should be a
complete aud full report of what occurred,
neatly and plainly written, and should be
forwarded without delay. | enioin upon
all post commanders, the careful ob-erv-
ance of this day and proper report there
Of, as sacred duty, which ought TO be
held by each one OF them and By every
,onlrade OF the Grand Army OK the Re
public as an inestimable privilege"