The National tribune., 1896-06-04
WASHINGTON W.R.C.
Good Work by the Department of the Po-
fomac Memorial Day.

Good Work by the Department of the Po-
tomac on Memorial Day.
The Department of the Potomac. W.R.C.. has
teen doing splendid work under the admins
tration of Mrs. Anna w. Johnson. Incidentally
il may be remarked that this Department al
ways does good work, and never was this better
demonstrated than on Memorial Day. No other
Department in the whole organ izatiOn can
conceive the work that has to be done in
the Department which comprises the. District
of Columbia. There are score or more Ma
tional Cemeteries in and around Washington,
and the devoted 200 women of the W.R.C,
with the smaller loyal Orders assisting, do all
the decorating OF the thousands OF graves Not
a grave but has its flag. and every flag calls for
flower. Each cemetery has Corps and Post
assigned to it, and the work is done under their
auspices.
Year by year the Memorial work of these
loyal women grows heavier as the graves on
the quiet hilsides grow thicker and thicker
Last year 175 old soldiers in the Department
of the Potomac passed over to join the Great
Commander.
Most of the flowers to decorate the thousands
of graves were furnished by the school children
on Friday. About noon wagons were sent to
the schools by the Grand Army committee.
The flowers were collected and brought 10
GAR. Hall. where they were spread on long
tables and chairs. and the Indies constituting
the Memorial Committee Immediately pro-
ceeded TO make them into bouquets and
wreaths.
Laurel always plays IN important part in the
decorations. for the rich, glossy leaves are beau
tifnl. and the delicate pink flowers are admired
by everybody. There is a tender memory that
cliugs around the laurel, which makes the old
soldiers love it. From its roots the boys in
prison used to carve rings and picture frames,
tiny jewel boxes. and the like, ard there
h. Il E..s
Union which does not possess memento made
of laurel. Among the offerings from the schools
were many tiny vresths of the pink lowered
laurel. evidently fashioned by childish hands.
in looking the loads OF blossoms, il was
quite apparent that there were many loyal lit
tie sonls among the givers. for little hands had
tried hard to fashion embems OF various kinds
There were tiny crosses made of pasteboard,
with daisy heads sewed othe pastehoard with
coarse thread. There were wreaths and circles
hearts, and many other designs. On the back
of one poor little wilted daisy cross was printed
in scrswling characters: My papa WAS SOL
dirr. He is dead"
The Department officers, as is the custom,
went TO Arlington, which is tho largest cene-
terry i'm the jurisdiction of the Department.
The heaviest work at Arlington is the pre1ar-
ing aud serving of the lunch. Mrs. Georgia
Balm, assisted by Mrs. Alice Burgess, Mrs
Indiana Cowlimg. Past Department President;
Mrs. Ida Chase. Department Secretary, and a
half score of loyal women served lunch of
strong coffee, sandwiches, pickles, and cheese
to $500 old soldiers ard members of the loyal
0rders.
The decoration of the thousands of graves
WAS Systematically carried out. Not single
grave was left without flower.
TIE newly made mound that covers all that
is mortal Of the late Gen. Gresham was hurried
under blossoms placed there by friends of the
family, and laurel wreath added by the
Department Of the Potomac. W.R.C.
Mr.. Cleveland sent TO the Department Presi-
dent, Mrs. Anna W. johnson, "A splendid wreath
OF roses aud ferns. with the request that il be
placed by her upon the grave of the late Secre-
tsry of State. Ii bore card on which was
written in the Presidents we'll known hand,
From the President" Mrs. Johnson carried
the wreath, which was half as tall as herself,
and placed il on the grave with her own hands.
The tom OF the Unknown" which was in
charge OF Mrs Susie McCabc, Past DEPARTMENT
President, was simply but effectively decorated
with laurel ropes and wrcatbs aud magnificent
wrcaths Of roses. Over tho face Of the mOnu-
ment HING the great rose-wreath sent by Mrs.
Cleveland, she has sent every Both OF May
since she came TO the White House. The
services at the tomb were short, but impressive.
The simple but beautiful ceremonial for the
unknown dead was used at Arlington for the
first time.
One OF the pleasant features Of the day was
the presence. as All honorcd guest, of Mrs. +.
Flnrence Barker. first National President of
the Order. She assisted in the work OF the
day, and pronounced the benediction at the
end Of the ceremonies there.