Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-06-07

Stannard post, G.. A. r., observed Memo
rial day for the 9th time May 30, There
was a generous response to the posts APP
peal for flowers. and the details which
started from the post rooms ut 10 O'Clock for
the various cemeteries were we'll laden with
these tributes to the memory of the dead
heroes. A. p. Waldron and detail decorat-
ed the graves at Green Mount cemetery. j.
b. Scully and detail at Mount ST. Joseph
and Mount Calvary cemeteries j. L. Bars
tow and NJ. D. l.. Thompson at the Eldridge
school house cemetery. and VI. f. Kclly and
a detail at the Wiuooski Catholic cemetery.
At 1910 a. m. the detail in charge of L.
S. Peck, consisting OF [. \. Woodbury., j
II. Holton, II. W. Allen, G.. A. Hubbard,
c. T.. Beach, Hiram Hanscom, Leander
Freeman and Lieut. William Norton, with
detail of Sons of Veterans, entered Lake
View cemetery and marched to the lot of
Maj. Gen. William Wells, whore the beauti-
full service Of the order was commenced,
Comrades Woodbury., Holton and libbard
reading the service.
After strewng the grave with flowers,
the column moved to the monument of
Major General George j. STANDARD and con
Cluded the services, with the singing of
america, - and covering the grave with
beautiful flowers Tho comrades then
formed n skirmsh line from north to south
across the west end of the cemetery and
moved easterly, strcwiug flowers over the
graves of the i3 soldiers Of tho wars Of the
Rebellion, the Revolution and 1912
At | 80 O'Clock a column, headed by
detachment of police under the command of
Oliver Lamora, was formed on st. Paul
street In the column were the following
NJ
n. c., L. V. NJ. band and battalion, St.
Joseph piccolo and druu corps and cadets,
Sons Of Veterans, seven OF the public schools,
Stannard post and invited guests. The va
rious organizations turned out with full
ranks making a long line. Rain began to
fall as the column started, and con
tnued until late in the afternoon.
At Elmwood cemetery the ritual
services of the &. A. K. were conducted by
Post Commander Holton. followed by the
decoration OF graves and music by the band.
The column then proceeded to the opera
house. which was well filled After music
and prayer by Rev. F. W. Olmstend Rev.
Or. W. S. Roberts OF this city delivered an
address, the substance Of which follows;
REV. DIR. RoRERTs' ADDRESS.
Veterans of the Union Army, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
Those of you who have been in Mont
pelier, will recall two impressive sights in
the State capital building One is the col
lection of battle flags the other is picture
of the prison pen at Andersonville Both
are reminders of that eventful period when
an army, vast in numbers steadfast in pul-
pose, of courage rare, clad in heavens own
hue saved this nation to Il new live and a
| holier destiny.
Mutely they speak-those silent memoir
ials-but with an oloquence that never fails
to touch the heart, Through what scenes
those standards once were borne Where
tine cannon'S loud defiance shook the earth
and shells went screaming on their errand-
of death, where the smaller missiles sped in
visible and silent to give the fatal touch,
and one by one the brave went down before
the peting of the leaden storm, where
the charge was made upon bristling
ranks and bayonet thrust and sabre
stroke told off the number that
would fight no more-where the wounded
lay at night upon the field, and tho plying
skies dropped rain to quench their fever and
their thirst-yeS, where the dead were
gathered for burial in common graves with
out coffin or shroud-therc the war,
worn colors gave to the breeze their starry
folds. And they have become memorials
forever Of those fateful days That picture
of the prison pen, what does it say i
portrays to the eye what can neve
adequately expressed in words. Within
that stockade, thousands Of our brave coun
trymen yielded up their lives By starvation
and disease scorning to purchase release o.
life at the price of renouncing their coun
try flag. The land is filled with mementOe
of those years of strife The thickly poo
pied national cemeteries, monuments on tn
battle fields, and in our cities, and NOR
powerfully still, these men who were in tn
ranks, speak the great deeds Of the Uniol
army Its rise was sudden, its work wa
quick and effectual. Then came the gran,
review and the army of tho Uniol
passed into history. But what
achieved and what it bequeathe
will abide while the centuries run thei
course. We have as its bequeSt fair dc
main. | have climbed mountain in east
ern Maine and looking west could see owe
a stretch of country about equal to tn
width of Palestine. To measure our Ian
from east to west would require 80 time
that unit of vision. When our lakes an
rivers are locked in the icy embrace OF wiz
ter, some of you go speeding away TO tn
I South. In day or TWO the Ice disappears
Q then the fields are green and at the end c
three days journey by fast express 20
wake in an earthly paradise. Flowers ar
blooming, birds are singing and luscou
fruits are on every hand. This wide an
wonderful country is the new land of prom
ise One flag flies over it all, the flag {
the boys in blue. Freedom is now our hel
itage. From the beginning this was Gale
the land Of tho free. But the limitatio
upon that proud title we all we'll know.
was FREQ to favored race, to another raC
it was the home Of the slave. Tho hand {
Lincoln wrote the words that babe a rae
be free We euogize the martyred pres
dent and well we may. But we cannot 70
get what gave that hand its power to wr
the decree of liberty. Had it not been f
! the victorious Union army that hand Won
have been weak like other men.
There was deep significance in the nam
which the opposing armies bore-Unio
= Confederate The modified sovereignty
, individual States was clashing with tho a
solute sovereignty Of the Congress of h
Stataa and the auueal lyoe carried N th