Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-30
THEIR BRAVE DEEDS sung BY POETS
Orators Tell the Debt the Country Owes the Heroes Whose Graves
Were Strewn With Flowers Today
PARADE OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

All around the capital lie the graves Of
the men who more than a quarter of a
century ago fought nobly for the preserva-
ton of the Union. 1t is as If the dead were
camped as an encircling host about the
city where their hopes were centered when
they left their farms, their shops, their
homes tc march to the defense of their be-
loved land.
In life their services were invaluable and
in death they are not forgotten. But there
is one day in the year that s set apart
as sacred to their memory, when their
comrades in arms gather about their grass
grown graves and spread flowers over
their last resting places. The buSie sounds
the assembly, the band plays martial music
and funeral marches, and eloquent orators
do tribute to those who have laid down
their lives in defense Of home and coun-
try Memorial day is perhaps the most
beautiful Of all American national festi-
walls. There is at once a poetry and a
pathos .bout the occasion that appeals
directly to the hearts of liberty-loving
people.
An Ideal Day.
Today started out as an ideal one for
such a festival In all parts of the city
people were stirring at an early hour in
preparation for visits to the great ceme-
teries where lie buried thousands Of the
nations preseryers or to the more quiet
cities of the dead where repose the remains
of dear ones. The streets were made lively
with the music of marching pands while
little groups of gray-haired veterans made
their way toward the point where the
general parade formed, or went direct to
lay their flowers on the graves of the men
beside whom they fought in battle thirty
years ago and more.
at Arlington. Soldiers Home. Congressional
cemetery. Oak Hill, Holy Rood. Mount
Olivet, Graceland, st. Eltzabeths, Battle
Ground and Rock Creek.
feature of the day was the parade OF
the Grand Army Of the Republic The col
umn started from 18th and Pennsylvania
avenue at 10 o'clock this morning, SO that
those who took part in 1t were able to at
tend the ceremonies at Arlington at noon.
A Short Line of March.
There was one pathetic detail about this
parsde Time was, and not SO very long
ago. when the line marched to the north
end of the Aqueduct bridge before dis
harding, but the years are passing on and
the men who carried muskets in the pride
of early youth or lusty manhood are young
no longer, God bless them. They marched
for days and days bearing heavy knapsacks
and the other accouterments OF soldiers,
but the weight Of years is heavier bur
den to bear. Each year there are more va
cancies in the ranks and the distance to
be traversed must needs be cut down in
OF der that the more infirm may take part
in the paraIe without feeling that they
have undertaken too much. The line OF
N arch was only to the Pennsylvania ave-
nue bridge at 21th street.
As usual the principal exercises OF the
day were held at the national cemetery at
Arlington. Here, as elsewhere, the eXer-
cises were under the auspices or the De
partment of the Potomac, q. A. H., and
hao n arI m
description. A decoration committee of la
dies, auxiliary to the general comittee on
6ecora tions and grounds assisted in the
work of securing the flowers; to deck the
countless graves. The work was well done.
for it was the plan of these patriotic people
that there should not be soldiers grave
in any part of the District, as we'll as at
Arlington, left unmarked on the day when
nation untes to honor Its dead
A General Holiday.
The day was generally observed as
holiday in this city. The departments and
government offices were closed for the
day. Many Of the leading business houses
were closed all or half the day. and thou
sands of people who did not visit the Gem
eteries took advantage of the opportunity
to secure days outing in the woods or
on the river. All the excursion steamers
carried large crowds to the different river
resorts, while the roads were thronged
and the Rock creek vallev and the many
other wooded spots about the city were the
scenes Of merry picnic parties.
The Parade.
The general parade Of the Department Of
the Potomac, Grand Army Of the Republic.
was today as imposing as in the years past,
and It's line of march, from 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue, along the avenue to
25th street, where the parade was dismiss
ed. was thronged with crowds, who thus
sought to honor the survivors of those who
once formed part, Of the greatest and grand
est of modern armies.
The procession formed at 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue, under command of
Comrade James B. Carter. officer Of tie
day, the officer of the guard being Lieut..
R. Emmet Smith, and promptly at 10
o'clock moved off in the following order:
detachment Of mounted police, officer Of
the day and his aids, followed by the ora
tor of the day, the chaplain and the poet,
in carriages.
Behind them marched the band of the
United States marine corps, about fifty
strong, Prof. F. Fanciulli, leader. The
members Of the band were attired in their
summer uniform Of white duck and he'll
NETS, presenting unusually attractive
appearance. The Old Guard. Capt. James
NJ. Edgar, commanding, with Lieuts. R. E.
| Smith, Amos Cunning and William Fuss,
about fifty men strong, came next acting
as the guard of honor, and Immediately be-
hind them marched the Capital City Guards
| colored organization, Capt. Abram Ack-
with commanding.
Tod hxyY mo nnar nfa 80