The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-03
SONS OF VETERANS.
Memorial ServiceS-NewS from Va
riOus DiViSiOnS-ElectiOn Of OFF,
GERS, etc.

believes it 10 the earnest desire OF every Cnap-
lain to have the report of that Department
the most complete accurate, and eompre-
| hensive that has ever been presented.
Both OF the Memorial Services have the entire
| approval of the Commander in Chief, and will
be part of the report of the Chaplain at the
| next ANIMAL Encampment. In speaking Of the
| duties of the Chaplain he says:
Resolve to make your work q success /;
work for that end with ali your energies, and
believe me that in spite of discouragements,
dissppointments, and hard times, you will sur
pass your fondest hopes, and that when you
retire from your position you will take with
you the satisfaction of having given your Df-
vision the best work, the best results, and the
best administration of this Department that it
has ever received"
The Chaplain-in- Chief does not intend that
the Service shall be obligatory, but that they
serve simply as an outline, subject to such
alterations as the Camps may find it necessary
to make The Chaplain further says:
Memorial service IAl will be used only at
such places as there may be no Post of the
GAR, or when Post has Rvited the Sons Of
Veterans to conduct the ceremonies of the day,
or where one or more cemeteries OF city may
be given over to the Sons of Veterans to conduct
the services.
Memorial service rB1 will only be used at
| such times as the Camp may by vote of the
GAR, or regularly.sppointed committee rep
the observances of the day.
Camps at all times, and especially on Memo
rial Day, are expected to assist the Grand Army
in such manner az may seem most expedient
to that organization. And that, without assum-
ing it as a right or Extensively urging it as
duty, Camps, whenever opportunity offers, will
render such assistance as may be desired in
prompt and effective manner.
Each Camp is expected to parade in uni
form, with white gloves, regulation badge, etc.
lsee Sec l, Art. XIV, G. E. and E J, officers with
side-arms.
Every brother is expected to conduct himself
in digniied, reverend, and military manner;
to render prompt. efficient, and obedient serv-
ice to his superior officers; to use his influence
in making May 80 more of holy and less of
holiday, to do all that he can to give more gen.
eral observance and deeper significance TO the
day by personal participation with bis Camp in
the religious services of Memorial Sunday and
the various public ceremonies of Memorial
Day and to discourage at all times the grow
ing tendency to make May 80 day for excur-
sions, balls, picnics and outing parties.
Captains should send detail from Camps to
place flags (miniature) on the grave of every
veteran on May 90.
Camps bearing name of veteran buried in
their own town may have special services or
remarks appropriate TO his life and character"
MEMORIAL SERVICE "a"
When the head of the column has reached
the plot or monument around which the serv
ices are to be held, the Camp and participating
organizations can be arranged in a manner
most suitable to the occasion and nature of the
ground. The following plan is suggested:
(a) The Captain at head of plot
(6) The Camp and Colors in line On his left.
lei The fring-squad on his right.
Id The Chaplain opposite the Captain.
(e) The drum-corps or band in rear Of the
Chaplain.
After an appropriate selection by band or
drum-corps, the Captain will give the COM
mand: Camp! Parade, Rest! ARMED Camps
see $50, p. 90, School of Soldier, U. s. A. Inf.
Drill Reg) Unarmed Camps, see p. 20, S. of V.
Ritual.) He will then uncover and say:
Captain-Comrades of the Grand Army of
the Republic, and Brothers of the Sons of Vet
Grams. We have met once more to pay to your
comrades and to our fathers our tribute of love
and respect.
Once again we meet within these sacred
bounds to pledge anew our fealty to their
memory and the principles for which they
fought.
With bowed heads, with solemn tread, and
with voices hushed, we meet as sons of soldiers
to speak words of comfort and consolation to
the widow and orphan, and to again remind
our people of their duty to the soldiers tho
wore the blue; to the flag for which they
fought; to the country for which they died
cries of their heroic service and unselfsh sac
sacrifice.
May we fully realize the sanetity of the
place and hour. and our conduct give as
surance of the sincerity of our purpose and our
earnest appreciation Of the duties and respon-
sibilities devolving upon US as Sons of Veter-
ans.
The Chaplain will invoke the blessing of
Deity.
Chaplain-supreme Ruler of the Universal
God of battles and of peace We thank thee for
this day and hour; for this blessed privilege of
meeting here as sons of soldiers to do homage
to Nations dead.
We thank thee that in the day of trouble
and the hour of danger that thou in thy inf
mite wisdom raised up men who were ready to
do battle, and if need be to die that this coun-
try might be preserved. Grant US, we beseech
thee. continuance of thy watchful care.
Grant thy blessing upon these sacred cere-
monies, cOnsecrated, as they are, to the memory
of brave and loyal hearts who dared stand for
the right and were not afraid to bare their
breasts to storm of steel in defense of human
liberty, united country, and the brotherhood
of man.
Bless our country. Preserve it In purity and
integrity. Prosper our Order. Make it, we
pray thee, an instrument in thy hands of great
good to our country and to thee, and at last
gather US with thee in the great Camp-room of
eternity. Hear and answer, We beseech thee.
Amen.
All-Amen.
Captain-Camp, Attention.
Song" America" First, second, and fourth
yerses.)
Address-By comrade of the GAR. or promi-
nent citizen.
Song" Cover Them Over with Beautiful
Flowers" To be sung, if possible, as a male
quartet. While singing have three little girls
dressed in white advance and place floral offer
ings for the unknown dead on plot or monu-
ment or cenotaph.
COVER THEM OVER WITH BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.
Cover them over with beautiful flowers,
Deck them with garlands, those brothers OF ours,
Lying so silent by night and by day,
Sleeping the years of their manhood away,
Give them the need they have won in the past,
Give them the honors their future forecast
Give them the chaplets they won in the strife;
Give them the aureis they lost with their life.
CHORUS.
Cover them over, yes, cover them over,
Parents and husband. brother and lover,
Crown in your heart those dead heroes OF ours,
III wit In haau fuI nnvy