The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-05-31
AT THE SOLDIERS HOME
Six Hundred Old Warriors March TO
the Graves
Major q. w. ArbuckIe Of San Francisco the
Orator Of the Day-Euiogy OF Patrl.
otism and Loyalty

There was no spot in the west yester-
day in which there was paid more heart
felt honor to the soldier dead than at
the Soldiers home near Santa Monica.
The pulse of every old warrior seemed TO
beat quicker stroke as he stepped into
rank to march down the valley and up
the hill to the beautifully situated GEM
etery, that he might do honor to the
comrades that had gone before.
The muster roll of the Soldiers home
yesterday was 1888; of these over 600 as
sisted in the memorial services. AT S:45
the captains formed their companies in
front of their quarters and marched to
the parade ground near the barracks of
Company D. A procession was then
formed as follows: The Home band of
dozen pieces led by Bandmaster Elser;
officers of the Home, Governor Rowland;
the orator of the day, Major G. w. Ar
buckle of San Francisco; the non COM
missioned staff; firing party, composed
of squad of six veterans; John A. Mar
tin post, No. 1873, G. A. r.. Uncle Sam
Post, No. 177,G. A.. r.; Union Veteran
legion; Association of Naval Veterans;
visiting members of the G. A. r., among
whom Post Fisher of Santa Monica was
conspicuous; the w. r. c. and ladies of
the c. A. r.; then came the forty-five
maidens from the Santa Monica schools
laden with flowers for decorations;
members of the Home with Company A
on the right formed a rear guard for the
decorating party; next came carriages
containing members of the Home from
hospital, and the procession ended with
citizens on foot and in carriages.
Many an old warrior who found it be-
yond his strength to march up to the
cemetery watched the procession from
the hill, and his heart was in the ranks.
1t was indeed a beautiful and impressive
sight; the old soldiers, many of them
MANNED, many of them halt, with here
sleeveless coat and there wooden leg
or crutches. showed no lack of vigor. dis
cipline or drill as they marched to the In
spring quickstep Of the band. AS the
procession trailed down the valley. the
forty five maidens. all clad In white,
each one representing state of the
Union, formed a conspicuous center to
the ranks of the boys in blue.
BY THE COMRADES GRAVES.
Seven years ago there We're but seven
graves in the cemetery today there
are three hundred, and there is mon
,ument to the unknown dead who fell
in the war, very many hundreds more.
The services held by the veterans over
the graves of their comrades were
simple, beautiful and impressive. The
services commenced with special serV-
ice in honor of the fallen comrades VINO
rest in unknown graves. The monu-
ment was decorated by the maidens,
each representative of a state, rec1t1nS
q few lines as she stepped forward with
her flowers and flag. Governor Row
land gave a short and well pointed adj
dress, reviewing the objects of Memorial
day. The Grand Army posts then con-
Quoted their prescribed ritual for Me-
mortal day ceremonies, after which the
decoration of graves by the children
took place. During the services the
children sang Wen Garland Their
Graves, and the twenty-five members
of the Choral clubs of the home sang
Sleep Softly. Sleep. The firing party
fired a salute and at the conclusion of
the services the bugler sounded taps.
The procession then reformed and to
more martial music wended their way
back to the home. a halt was made OPP
posite the assembly hall, where the Old
soldiers drew into two lines. through
which the maidenS passed and We're sa-
luted. The ranks We're then dismissed.
The services and march to ard from the
cemetery occupied over two hours.
THE GRAFTON OF THE DAY.
At o'clock the Memorial Grafton was
delivered near the assembly hail by
Major G. W. Arbuckle of San Fran
cisco. There was a large gathering of
veterans, who listened with great in
terest to the majors cloquence, pune
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