Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-06-06
TOMBS BURIED IN FLOWERS.
Graves OF Soldier Dead in the Wash
ingtOn Cemeteries Are
Decorated.

Washington, D. c., May 3O.-Honors to
the memory Of their beloved dead are be-
ing paid throughout the country to-day by
the veterans of the Grand Army of the
Republic, and the surviving relatives of
those that fell in the great conflict of the
COS. The day and the observance is one
!istinctively American. Decoration Day
laS been one of the fixed Saints Days"
of the calendar of the new world, and it's
observance bids fair to be perpetuated
for all time Foreign lands have had
their wars and their battles Their ar
mics have gone through victories and de-
feats, but in no other portion of the globe
does the sentiment of remembrance of
those that have died upon the field of con-
f1ict at the mouth of the cannon, at the
point of the bayonet, on the heights and
in the trenches, find responsive recogni-
ton in the hearts of the survivors. There
IS no decoration day for the heroes Of the
Crimea, no honOring of the earth beneath
which rests all that is mortal of the
brave men who fell on both sides of AL
sace-L Lorraine in the early 70s. Even in
patriotic England the names Of the gal
liant 600 that composed the Light
Brigade are wel-nigh forgotten,
save for that archives of the
of that historic charge are ending their
lives in poverty and poOrhouses, either at
home or on this side of the Atlantic.
America alone of all the nations Of the
earth hOnors year by year her soldier
dead and Strews their last resting places
with fragrant flowers, while requiems
and patriotic hymns ascend to the skies,
and the hearts of the rising generation
are thrilled with OratiOns breathing love
and devotion to the mother country.
At Arlington the grand national ceme-
terry, at the various private cemeteries
and wherever in one OF the parks stands
marble or bronze representation of one
full floral decorations and display of ma
tiOnal cOOrS. The floral display was par
ticularly striking. for in addition to the
contributions of individuals and societies,
by order of President Cleveland the
whole of the floral wealth of the White
House grounds was culled by the garden
ers and used for the decorations of SOL
diers graves. Col Wilson, the superin-
tendent of public buildings and grounds,
had also done his part i'll selecting the
choicest blossoms in the parks for the
qualification of the soldiers monuments
with which the city abounds. The cere-
monies, as i'll the past, were intrusted to
the @. A. r., and were impressive
The COXeyiteS seized on the opportunity
to exploit themselves in public under COW
er of a patriotic desire to decorate the
peace monument of the western edge of
that forbidden spot, the capitol grounds.
Last evening they were reinforced by
Galvin's army, 80 strong, and after
formal welcome by Oklahoma Sam rep
resenting the leader of the movement who
is now in prison, the newcomers, who
were very hungry and forlOrn after their
long tramp from Lansdale near Balti-
more, found quarters in some rude shell
of no
camp. Yesterday evening the men spent
their time in gathering evergreen and
wild flowers and to-day they marched to
town and deposited their offerings on the
peace monument
The chief event of the day about Wash
lngton was the celebration at Arlington,
where countless thousands of the ma
TONS defenders lie at rest, some beneath
marble slabs and very many in the shad-
oW of the monument to the unknown
dead. To this great cemetery the Grand
Army repaired in force They formed
near their hall on Pennsylvania Avenue,
and at 1880, under a threatening sky,
they started on their march for Airing
ton, headed by considerable body of
the district militia. The old veterans
stepped out Pravely to the notes of bugles
on the march that is getting to be more
arduous as the years roll by. The exer-
clses at Arlington began at 1890, and
consisted OF IN Grafton by Representa-
tive !. II. Martin, Of Indiana; the deliv-
cry Of a poem by Col. John A. Joyce, and
an address by Representatiye Bryan, of
Nebraska Apr-Jpris r. Sx..isic W. fur
nished by the Marine Band and the
Grand Army Musical Union President
Cleveland witnessed the celebration and
listened to the exercises from prominent
place on the large grand stand
There were also public ceremonies at
the Soldiers Home, where an grafton was
delivered by Representative r. G. Cous-
ms, of Iowa, and a poem was read by
Representative English, of New Jersey.
Representative LATE Pence, of Colorado,
was the orator at the Congressional Gem
etery. Col. Thomas Calver delivered the
poem and Past Grand Commander S. s,
Yoder, of the Union Veterans Union,
delivered the addreS1 At GraceIand Gem
etery the ceremonies comprised an ora
ton by Representative Picker, of South
Dakota; a poem by Comrade w w.
Granger, and addresses by A. n. Dodson,
of the Sons Of Veterans. and Chaplain
w. III. Honn, of Thomas Post The
Union Veterans Union conducted services
al the Battle Greek Cemetery the first
time they have SO acted as an Independent
organization.