The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-30
II UNKNOWN DEAD.

This is Decoration day. 1t will be uni
versally observed, as usual, throughout the
country. The c~onsecrating hand of time is,
with the recurring years, making more
tender and more reverent our memories of
the dead, but not forgotten, ones whose
country's honor demanded the sacrifice
of their lives. To foster by the annual
memorial observance Of decorating SOL
diers' graves the memories Of those who
nobly fought and died in order that our
political union might be maintained, is a
wise and patriotic duty. Generations are
here which knew not the war, and others
will rise which know not the warriors, save
by the historic scroll. But their examples
live undimmed; their memories perish not;
the lessons of their nobility are the highest
instruction the country's youth is given.
The patriot is devotion's type-the unre-
turning volunteers of the great struggle
furnish us our purest example of high duty.
There can be no more impressive sight than
that of the living soldiers of the wear bear
ing wreaths with which to decorate the
graves of their fallen comrades. The ranks
of the veterans are growing thin. Each
year sees battalions and regiments cross
ing the river to the bivouac of the dead. The
survivors compose but a fading remnant Of
that grand army which went forth in the
bloom and vigor of their youth to the haz-
ards and hardships of the most terrible
and disastrous war of modern times. As
grow feeble the hands which thirty-four
years ago waved sad farewells. and as
grow dim the eyes where then blazed the
fires of patriotism lit from freedoms altar,
there come upon life's stage those to whom
descends as a tender heritage the honor
OF remembrance. the privilege OF symbolic
ing by the tributes of lowers that there
lives after him who died for his country an
enduring name in the imperishable niche
OF glory.
In all the cemeteries of the land these ten
der ceremonials of remembrance and honor
will to-day be paid TO the heroic dead, cover
ing their grassy mounds with freshest fra
grant wreaths. Not, on bridal brows are the
blossoms of spring more httingly bestowed
the brave who fell in arms. But there are
many graves of those who fell in the
great, gigantic war which only the sarlands
shaken from the orchards and shivering,
odorous and pale along the wind, will dec
crate to-day. For many ne in unknown and
unnoted places; their graves unmarked by
mound or headstone: unwet with tears.
To them let Mother Earth. who holds them
in her bosom, be kim. Let lilies wave over
them their pale truce-iags, and clover bios
SONS browse above them, and honey-laden
bees with moaning dirge. distill their wild
flower fragrance upon the sacred sod Shall
not the violets eaten IN their sapphire
chalices the tears OF evening and morning
to shed upon the unregarded turf which
covers them? Let the wiry grasses, smitten
by the wind. wave their requiem, and let
the oak send forth above them the moan
of its sorrowing leaves, and the magnolia
loosen its waxy bloom 10 fan as gentle as
the snowflake upon the spot which is not
decorated by human hands Shall not these
unknown. heroes be held in cherished recol-
lection? History does not record their
names or their achlevements-they are the
nnkpOun daaH-hrf we are living i'm tho
sunlight OF freedom which these men now
living In windowless houses brought TO us.
Unmarked their graves; unsought their
resting places-the unreturning braves who,
by the dim light of lanterns. were buried
where they fen, unshrouded; with fixed be-
seeching eyes unshut, and COLI hands clutch
ing nothing; eyes and hands Tor which
other eyes and hands afar waited unavail-
ingly through what bitter seasons OF hope
fading into incertituoe and darkening into