Connecticut western news., 1895-06-06
Sergeant Major A. P. Briggs followed

Canaan inclusive had rallied at the cemeteries at those places. He was deeply impressed at the sight of so many ''little tots" from France, Italy. Germany and Russia among the other growing up, under the bless ings of this free land. He said that the sufferings of soldier ended with his death and were soon over, but that the soldiers mothers lived on and contin- ued to suffer for years. He dwelt on the cases of mothers of boys who had gone into the war and who never return ed and from whose deaths no tidings were ever received.
 After Sergeant Major Briggs had con- cluded his remarks, Mrs H. M. Adams. President of the Woman's Relief Corps, seconded the stage holding in her hands a beautiful American flag. of heavy silk with gold fringe and lettering. The Post rose and Commander Reel and Chaplain E. s. Roberts went upon the stage. Mrs Adams addressed the Post in graceful and appropriate words. She said that when the Relief Corps learned that the Post was in need of new flag, the one which had been presented to it by a member of Col. Cowles' family be- ing worn out, the Corps decided to pro cure a new flag for the Post, She clos cd her speech with beautiful poem and then handed the flag to Chaplain Roberts with the injunction to guard it we'll. In accepting the flag Chaplain Roberts thanked the ladies on behalf of the Post for the beautiful flag. spoke of the inspiration which the flag is to soldiers and alluded to the battle flags in the Capitol at Hartford. He also complained of the neglect of the select men of this town to provide flags for the schools as the law prescribes. The ''Star Spangled Banner" was then sung.
 Rev Henry Utterwick, pastor of the East Canaan Cong1 Church. wSs the next speaker. In his address he depart ed from the ordinary path followed by Memorial Day orators, He developed the idea at considerable length that the practice of decorating the soldiers graves with beautiful, though fading, flowers was laudable one. we should also bring the tribute of symbol ical flowers to honor the soldiers mem ory. The best way to honor a good friend was to live so as''to honor him. We should therefore bring as tributes gar lands of virtue and good works. The for get-me-not of recollection, the violet of modesty and humility, the sweet water lily of purity. The cedar of Lebanon stood for strong integrity. We should practice the virtues of sympathy, de- votedness and love of country. We should as Nation be more spiritual. We thought too much of the dollars and cents. If we did this we should, as were, bring armfuls of beautiful flowers to adorn the graves of our departed heroes. Then followed the singing of the song ''Falling from the Ranks. one by one"
 J. Henry Roraback made an eloquent spirited speech. He said that it was the first time he had ever had an oppor- tunity of personally thanking the sol diers for maintaining the integrity of the nation, he considered it an honor to be permitted to do SO, and expressed his thanks in words full of feeling. The issues before the country in 1861 were not to be settled by the ballot, they could only be settled by the sword and bayonet. The soldiers had thus settled the questions of national union and freedom for all time. He contrasted the conduct of Gen. Grant in modestly retiring to private life after the sup pression of the rebellion with the con- duct of such successful generals as Caesar, Cromwell and Napoleon, who had grasped absolute power in the hour of their triumph. The attitude of this town in not having erected a soldiers monument and in never making any appropriation for the observance of Memorial Day was alluded to in terms of severe censure.
 As MT Roraback resumed his seat on the stage Quartermaster Sergeant Adams called on s. 0. Beckley for . speech. MT Beckley, though express ing the opinion that, considering the oppressive heat, enough had been said, came upon the stage. He recalled the incident of being caught in hard thunder storm, while on bicycle trip to Norfolk. and being obliged to seek shelter under the shed at the Norfolk axle shops. He fell into a revery on that occasion at the sight of the long stone factory buildings then standing idle. He reflected that the buildings
 had been originally erected to make the
 heavy hoes used by the slaves on the
 Southern plantations; but he reioiced
 that now there were no slaves in the
 United States, then at the outbreak of
 the war. muskets for the soldiers had
 been made there. Later the well
 known Norfolk axles had been manu-
 factured in the same shops, until com
 petition with more favorably located
 manufactures made the business un-
 profitable. It seemed to the speaker
 that the manufacture of the soldiers
 guns was sufficient justification for the
 erection of the buildings, even if noth-
 ing else had ever been made there.
 Likewise the soldiers who carried those
 guns into battle had fulfilled their mis-