Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-06-01

those who fell in that terrible war should
be one of the most sacred duties OF every
young man and woman.
This monument about which we, the
younger ones of our beautiful city are
gathered on this Memorial day was erected
70 the memory of those heroes who fell
in the mighty conflict, lasting token
OF the feeling which their deeds inspired.
Not less strong than this unyielding
stone were the men who rushed on into
the thick of the fight, as unwaverine, un-
fiinching and resistless as the metal from
which this statue was wrought, bearing in
their midst the Stars and Stripes that glo-
rious emblem of liberty for which our an
cesters fought and died on the field of
battle. This monument, which has stood
changelcss aid immovable. through
storm and through calm, is an ever pres
emit reminder of what we owe to those
grand defenders Of the Union, many of
whom went forth from this very city,
leaving home and friends never to re-
turn. A great number of those who took
part In the services Of the first Memorial
day in our city, honoring the memory of
their dead comrades and friends, are no
longer alive. By the time another gen.
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veterans left who fought for the flag and
for the Union. In a few short years, the
only visible reminders of that terrible
strife which brought sorrow to SO many
homes in our beautiful land, will be the
silent graves on the hillside, this noble
monument before US, and the tattered
flags in yonder State House, emblems of
the long, weary marches, the mighty con-
| ha
noble heroes who stood unflinching under
the storm of shot and shell on the historic
battlefields of Balls Bluff, Antietam
and Gettysburg.
Let those silent but eloquent graves on
the hill side be decorated today with the
sweetest and most beautiful flowers, fitting
enblems at this, the pleasantest season of
the year, OF a country's love and reverence
for those who fell in her defence.
We should feel it, not duty, but the
best and greatest privilege that could be
granted us to honor the memory of such
men as Sheridan, Farragut, Sherman,
Grant and Lincoln. One of the grandcst
names in history is that of Abraham Lin
coin. A second Washington, he was the
President of the United States during one
Of the darkest periods in the history of
|
of his life at his country's call and sue
cessfully brought this republic through
the blOodiest and most terrible Civil War
that this word has ever seen. His great
love and devotion to his country and to
the soldier Is an example that every one of
US should be proud to follow The names
of Sherman, Sheridan and others which
are equally familiar bring memories
| linz int ho frlc
which none of us can ever know Those
names, as familiar as that of father or of
brother, have associations connected with
them which can never pass from the mind
of the old soldier. Not while this country
exists will be forgotten that greatest
achievement of the war, Shermans march
to the sea. How many of us can forget
the grand and noble deeds performed by
General Grant, the commander who
brought the war to successful termina-
ton by the courage, steadfastncss and
logged perseverance which were the char
actcristics of that greatest general of the
Civil War. But the common soldier who
took part in those mighty battles and
whose deeds of valor were unnoticed and
unsung, is an equal sharer with the most
successful commander of the glory and
| liSheAy pau W tiiOoo IioIOeo
who stood imperial before the enemies of
their country Little could have been
accomplished by the leaders of the army
without the patriotism and devotion with
which the thinking citizen, soldier of the
United States went forth from the field
and from the shop to take up arms for his
country. If to the victor belong the
spoils of glory, honor and renown. then
| Il, Lo1o TO
who lies in the nameless grave which
we decorated today, as they do to the com
mander who led the way to victory. No
more fitting words could be spoken
of "Our Honored Dead than those
which were uttered by Henry Ward
Beecher: every mountain and hill shall
have it's treasured name, every river shall
keep some solemn title, every valley aid
every lake shall cherish it's honored regis
ter and till the mountains are worn out
and the rivers forgot to flow, till the clouds
are weary of rcplenishing springs and the
springs forget to gush and the rills to
sing, shall their names he kept fresh with
reverent honors which are inscribed upon
the book of national remembrance.
| At the cemeteries the programme carried
out in an specially appropriate and pleas
| ing manner was as follows:
| t FOREST GROVE.
PRAYER, Rev. J. NJ. Wyman.
| Decoration of Comrades Graves,
| Seth Williams Post.
| ST. MARys.
| PRAYER and address. Rev. Chas. w Doherty.
| Decoration of Comrades Graves
Seth williams rost.
MT. VERNON AND MT. PLEASANT.
| PRAYER Rev. J. S. Williamson.
Decoration of Comrades Graves,
| Seth Williams Post.
In the evening Meonian hall was
crowded and the programme rendered as
follows:
Hon. Chas. A. Millken, President.
| March, "Arcadian," Reeves.
| Higgins Military Band.
| War Memories (Descriptive).
| Day in Camp in 1862. Reeves.
Higgins Military Band.
| invocation Rev. T.. Z. Ncwbert.
| Reading of General Orders,
VIM. McDavid, Adjutant.
| Seronade Magnolia Missud.
| Higgins Military Band.
| Grafton. Comrade A. s. Bangs.
| Selection (Maratana1 Wallace.
| Higgins Military Band.
| america" Audience ana Band
| Benediction, Rev. j. NJ. Wyman.