The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-24
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOteS from the Departments
MEMORIAL DAY.


| Its lea defenders Sleep
Roses and lilies will we bring,
| The evergreen and bay,
| And all the jewels of the Spring
| Shall crown Memorial Day.
| In every sacred mournful rite.
| To faithful souls SO dear,
| Will Loyalty and Love unite
| To consecrate the year
BY requiem, by grateful need.
| The garland and the throng
Who celebrate the valiant deed
In poesy and song.
But where the triune colors shine
Above the sleeping brave,
| Celestial beauty doth enshrine
| The patriot soldiers gravel
Oh, blessed Standard of the world
| They gave their lives for thee,
| That stainless thou shouldst be unfurled,
| The Banner of the Freei
NEW YoRK's MEMORIAL.
Department President Kate E. Jones. in a
Memorial order appearing in mourning lines,
shows high appreciation of the sacred obliga-
tions of the day. She says:
at is fitting that the closing days of Spring,
| when the earth offers her fTst-fruits of flowers
| and fragrance should be the crowning-day of
the Nations dead, and the world pause and
| turn aside to do honor to those who fought and
| died to preserve our Union.
| Let every Relief Corps in the Department
| OF New York measure up to the great honor
and responsibility that is theirs, by giving such
assistance to the veterans as they may need, pro-
| viding flowers for every soldiers grave, an
| offering for the unknown Dead assembling the
| children with becoming respect and reverence,
and especially remembering that this day is
sacred to the Grand Army of the Republic
! only-that as an organization the Woman's Re-
| lief Corps has no deeds to commemorate
While it is well to remember the graves of men,
bers and friends, let it be done before the vet
Grams assemble, and from the flowers select for
| the soldiers graves the choisest and the BEST"
SOUTH DAKoTA's MEMORIAL
Department President Carrie NJ Cleveland
| combines sweet sentiment with practical sug-
| gestions in Memorial order, from which are
the following extracts:
The heroes whose memory is precious TO US
Let US not think of them as dead, that generous
host that hovers to-day as cloud of witnesses
above the Nation, that yet speak louder than
we can speak, and more universal language.
They are not dead that yet inspire the people
with nober motives and more heroic patri-
otism.
As we assemble to pay our tender tributes
to their memory, let us bring the sweetest
flowers, Irvine the evergreens into wreaths, and
tenderly place them on the grassy mounds of
those who have fallen by the wayside.' Erect
monument dedicated to the memory of those
who sleep in unknown graves. Tendery place
the wreaths and floral offerings of grateful re-
membrance at its base. drape over the shaft the
flag they rendered stainless, the emblem of the
cause which they so faithfully served.
while we lay on the graves over yonder.
Our flags, wreaths, and roses red,
Let US then be not unmindful
OF the unknown soldiers dead.
For when. at the last grand roll-call,
Is the Nations honor-roll read,
Not far from the top will be found q list
Of the unknown soldier dead
81 would recommend inviting the teachers of
our public schools to impress upon the minds of
the children in their the lessons of patriotic
devotion to the Government, by bringing to
their minds during the last session of school
preceding Memorial Day the reason of the OBJ
servance of the day Encourage the children
to bring flowers and join in the ceremonies
thereby teaching them lessons of patriotism and
valor. Not only reverence for the memory of
those who gave their lives for the country's
honor. but to respect the living veterans whose
marching line grows shorter every year."
NAMES MEMORIAL.
Department President Ella Jordan Mason. of
Maine, cons the jewels of memory in an ex-
tended Memorial order. from which we quote:
Brighter than all other days which we COM
mem0rate stands out Memorial Day-memorys
halting-place each year. 1t is the shrine from
which we gather jewels to place in the Nations
diadem of fame. With trembling hands we
reach forth to pluck the glistening diamonds,
her boys sleeping on Southern battlefelds-
gone in their young manhood-given that the
Nation might live. Pearls-a wifes quivering
heart from hours of suspense; wife or widow,
which? Only the Father above knows her
agony borne bravely that liberty might spread
her white wings over our fair land. Opals-
lost hopes of Loves young dream laid on the
altar of patriotic devotion. Rubies-scattered
with wanton hand-the blood of the Nations
bravest sons, shed freely for our flag and our
country. Emeralds-memory's own jewel
which shines out fresh and fair to remind us of
brave deeds done. sacrifices made promises
given, duties yet to be performed. These are
the costly jewels which should gisten through
all time"
LoUIsIANA's MEMORIAL.
Department President Josephine B. Lewis, of
Lou lsiaDa, recently reelected and installed re-
minds her associates of the sweet obligations of
Memorial Day, and says:
This sacred trust bequeathed to US with
42200 graves in this Department wherein sleep
the Nations martyred heroes who freely gave
their lives for home and country. Let us make
it, sisters, day Of general absoution and con-
secration. Let the strong lead the weak, and
kneeling at the white marble slabs or mounds
of the unknown, bless God that in that great
hour of peril we had each and all something
worthy to sacrifice, and pledge anew the will
lingness of spirit which alone make patri-
OTIS deserving the name. Let us enlist our
children in the service, thereby teaching love
and reverence for the flag and loyalty to coun-
try, which has been preserved at the cost of the
lives of those for whom Memorial Day was in
augurated."
MICHIGAN's MEMORIAL.
Department President Ann NJ. Barney, of |
Michigan, issues Memorial order full of sweet |
devotion TO the veterans of the Union living |
and of reverence for the memory of the heroic |
dead Extracts follow:
Worthy shrine in the heart of every men, |
Der of the Womans Relief Corps is the thought |
that we shall share in this tribute to the men, |
DRY OF the brave men who fell without prayer |
to speed them, without fond farewell. Worthy |
of study, that may distribute the sacrament |
of flowers and put the wreaths gently down |
over the hearts that have ceased to beat.
Draws near our Nations holy day,
When we shall come with flowers Of May
To crown each hero-soders grave
Who gave his life our life to save.
"Strew roses for the blood they shed,
Rue for all the pain and strife,
Lilies for the peace they made,
Immorteiles for endless life.