The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-25
THE FEDERAL MEMORIAL DAY.
It's Observance In Savannah by the
Grand Army of the Republic.

Saturday OF this week Is the national
memgraI day. observed as "a national
holiday hy the federal government. In
the south the principal Observance is
where the national cemeteries are Ioca-
tel and where the graves OF the union
soldiers are decorated hy the Grand Army
OF the Republic and hy the closing Of an
government offices and a suspension OF
government business.
ln savannah the only public Observance
Grand Army. Winfield Scott Hancock
post The memorial obseryances by the
members ~ Inc post VIII Dee held az the
grave or lomrale j. J. Johnson, the last
member of Hancock post 10 die The ri-
tIal uf The grand army VIII be rccitld. the
national and department orders viii be
t-il, TOE music ~ the ritual VIII be sung
'E a c49ir or ladies' and gentlemen, and
after that each soldiers grave VIII bee
mag ked by a wreath or bunch Of flowers
and me lttle flag, which is always mark
Of Lhe srand army, Will be placed on the
grave.
Tho exercises by w S. Hancock post
VIII take place an 5 o'clock. Commander
feAse VIII have charge Of The service.
DE orders Tor the DAY VIII be read 10y
tasl senior vice commander OF Georgia,
Sir- b + ~ Gillespie as adJutant Of the
post. and also aide-de-camp 70 COmmau-
acr-ln-ChiefrPalmer.
The following sentiment. from the pa
riotic address of Department COmmdn-
der Nelson, at the eighth annual depart
meut cnc2mpment in March is quoted.
hope the time is not far distant
when tle beautiful ceremony of drop
ping flower and a tear in remembrance
or the nerOism Of our dead comrades
union and confederate Will Doe observed
on the same day and participated in by
comrades Of both armies I'm one process
sion. can any one advance
good reason why we should not unite in
lnlS labor OF l0Vey Those who Wore the
blue ana the gray mingle freely as citi-
Zens- The Warmest social relations exist
between those who were once champions
OF extreme views upon either side. No
objection is offered to- former union and
confederate soldiers sitting side 10y side.
ana from the same cup uartaklug of the
Wine which symbolizes the blood of our
cruclued and risen Saviour. Daughters
or the COnfederacy are welcomed into our
families as wives Of our sons. and the
sons OF confederate veterans as husbands
Of participants in the late war have been
removed by our government. and by pub
lie enactment former confederate soldiers
declared tit persons for any position OF
should we hesitate TO cover these poor
fellows with the same daisy-quit, who
are sleeping in the same bed. and must
wake face 10 face the same morning.
good VIII on both sides, isn't 10 time we
stopped talking about shaking hands
across the bloody chasm and forget that
there ever was a chasm? We say we are
one people; let us cease bOasting of 10,
and show by our acts that we are one.
StreWing flowers upon the graves
of brave men is a tribute TO their hero
ism, and not an Endorsement Of their
political belief"
Mr.. Gillespie will also read Lincoln's
address at Gettysburg, Nov 10, 1853.
Chaplain Jones of the post VIII read the
ritualistic service a the grave. and the
committee of ladies. the wives and daugh-
tiers of the members Of the post.