Crawford avalanche., 1895-05-30
Bah ON DECORATION DAY.
A Southern Woman's Tribute to He
roes Both Blue and Gray.

A Southern Woman's Tribute to He.
roes Both Blue and Gray.
1t was just bunch of white roses, but
the ribbons that tied it together told Its
history-one was blue and the other was
gray. 1t was to be placed on the grave
of a boy who had fought for what he be-
lieved was right, and the gentlewoman
who was to put it there believed that all
animosity had passed by, and the Blue
and the Gray might be firm friends. So
the bunch she carried for her own boys
grave was tied up in this way, and in her
hand was another one tied the same; 1T
was to be laid upon the grave of the
stranger. That stranger, whose name was
even unknown to her, had died fighting
like brave man, and, therefore, deserved
to be remembered and to have tribute
shown to his courage. think it beauti-
full idea-this one of decorating the graves
of all the soldiers, but / like it better
when the custom is carried even further,
and when not a grave in the cemetery is
overlooked.
1t seems to me a goodly and proper
thing for the living to remember the dead,
at least once year, and it seems kind
and loving thing to mark this remem-
brance with sweet flowers. AS people,
we are not very emotional, and If there
Is any way in which we can bring our
kindness to the surface, it should be done,
and so the encouragement OF the day
sacred to the memory of those who have
gone before is worthy of much considera-
ton. Decoration Day must essentially
be one entirely free from any feeling but
that of generosity and loving kindness.
1t doesn't make any difference which side
a man fought on-he died for what he be-
lieyed was right, and for that reason he
deserves to be remembered by those who
are living. Decoration Day ought to
mean the union of the Gray and the Blue;
there ought to be flag for that purpose,
for the colors blend so beautifully that the
result is exactly the tint of heaven itself.
wonder, my friend, il you feel as l do.
wonder if you despise all the funeral
trappings-if you wish more respect
shown to yourself dead than you might
possibly demand alive-and when the long
years have gone by, you would not like
somebody once year to place flower
on your grave, to show that you were still
in touch with humanity. No matter who
il is: il it is the woman whose life was
soiled, il it is the man whose death was
shameful or if it was the soldier who was
fighting for his country, just remember
that not one of them can defend them
selves now, and that neither you nor I
can judge them.
Start out to make Gods acre beautiful;
take the crimson roses Of love, the white
ones of innocence, the lavender heliotrope
of devotion, the blue forget-me-nots Of
never dying memory, the lilies of purity,
and strewing them all about here, there
and everywhere, make the day one Of
absolute union-union of hearts, union
of feeling and union of remembrance.
That is what Decoration Day should be.
And all these soldiers who lie sleeping,
those who fought not only on the battle
ground of dispute, but in the greater one
of life, will, when the trumpet call rings
out its summons on the great judgment
day, each stand before the Great Com
mander, ready to answer the questions put
to him. And be sure he will not ask his
neighbor, "Did you wear the blue or the
gray" But, instead, he will say: Broth
er, we have fought the good fight, and
may God, in his infinite mercy, judge
u.s. Bah.