The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-05-29
GRAVES OF HEROES
Patriotic Societies Have Combined
to Honor Neglected Monuments.
Reunions Who're Heroes Feu-ForYotten
Graves to BE Wreathed and Historic
Cannon to Form Texts for
Orat0ry.
[coPYRIGHr, I@4.l

undertaken this year unique series OF
celebrations of this patriotic festival.
ALI the orders which owe their exist
ence to sentiments connected with the
historic conflict of Lincoln's time arc
arranging plan of celebration which
promises to eclipse in magnitude, all
over the land, anything of the kind yet
seen, and in which the number Of par
ticipants will include practically every
bodied member of ten different pa
itriotic societies, which means that
some six hundred thousand men are to
cooperate in the fetes-
These societies include the eighty
thousand Sons of Veterans. q. s. A.,
the entire Naval Order of the United
States, the Medal of Honor Legion, the
Union Veteran Legion, the National
Association of Naval Veterans, the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion and
the Grand Army of the Republic. The
preliminaries OF the respective observ-
ances are under way In all the largo
cities from Maine to California, and the
array of speakers and participants IS
designed to include every name of inn
=
has not been entered ON the roll Of
departed veterans Gen. Horace Por-
ter, Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, Gen. John
Nj. Schofield ex-Gov. John Les Carroll,
of Maryland, Commodore Henry Erben
and Commander j. G. 3. Adams. of the
G. A. E., are few of the nationally
celebrated men who will furnish the Or
atorical inspiration of these occasions.
But the observances of Memorial day
ment. All through the south the ar
rangements now making include all
members of the Confederate Veterans
union or, as it is better known, the
Association of United Confederate Vet
Grams. The committees have already
sent an invitation to Mrs. Julia ID.
Grant, the late generals widow, but
much as she would like to be in tho
south on the anniversary, that lady
finds it impossible to do SO. Instead Of
this Mrs. Grant will take part in some
of the observances arranged under the
auspices of the united patriotic women's
societies.
Naturally, the most imposing prepa-
rations have been made by the Grand
Army of the Republic. In Philadelphia
there will be, in addition to the usual
parade, service under the auspices of
a joint committee of all the posts
This is meant to do away with the in
appropriate observance of the day
which has been displeasing to the vet
.eran element all over the union. In
New York, Gems. Porter and Sickles
will speak, and the chief rendezvous,
Grants tomb, is to be the scene Of ex-
ercises usual on this anniversary.
Nevertheless, even these observances
are secondary to the new spirit of COM
memoration which for the first time
since the war will be afforded ex-
preston ON Decoration day. It has
long been complained by veterans that
Decoration day is now little else than
a gala festival for the nation. Colleges
have their sports on this anniversary,
and places of amusement are resorted
to rather than the cemeteries. Hence,
all the patriotic societies mentioned
memorials of the war and to hold ex-
ercises suitable to the day about them.
Hence, while Gettysburg and Grants
tomb will be the Meccas as heretofore,
other places which were the scenes Of
important war events, but which have
been practically forgotten except To-
'cally, are to have q new fame conferred
upon them.
The graves Of the union soldiers at !
City Point, Va, for example, will be |
decorated on an unusually elaborate !
scale. Only the veterans and MEM /
bers of the patriotic societies are at all |
familiar with this spot, although it Is /
really important as a national ceme- /
terry. Gov. O'Eerrall, of Virginia, has 4
been invited to speak, and the day |
throughout the state will be as much a /
Joint commemoration by union and |
confederate veterans as anything else.
The Union Veteran Legion has as
sumed charge of an important feature |
of the celebrations, and its orators will I
be heard in New York, Chicago and
Boston. The much neglected union
near the deep cut At Bull
Run will also be decorated and ar
rangements have been made to hold
quite reunion of the survivors of that
around its base In this
spirit Is the celebration at the curious
Washington monument on South
Mountain where so much war history
was made in so short time. This GU
rious structure, long neglected and for
gotten, although rebuilt upon its de-
struction. is certainly one of the most
historic spots connected with the war.
Not only union veterans but confeder-
ates will participate in the celebration
The national cemetery at Logan's
Cross Roads, which all war veterans
have heard Of but which comparatively
few have seen, will be adorned with
flowers and wreaths as no burial place
has yet been adorned. perhaps So far.
no elaborate oratory or ceremonial has
been arranged and il Is not likely that
any viii be, but the preparations 70
visit include the essenblage OF large
numbers Of men there
In Trenton, y. J., there will be IN
teresting exercises at the swamp
angels" monument Although but q
cannon placed upon . pedestal. this
affair is the most historical bit %
metal IN existence, as every veteran
knows The grand army posts will
visit il and hold reunion there, Cos.
Werts making the address
The confederates viii make Meccs
u Perryville. Ky. where the nos:
famous of thei< cemeteries Ia snd
where jackson was killed Col
p-reLzin~{dsre va. 20 have mad. <he s.I-
iress for .hfs esleb-rfson which had .