Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-31
BLENDING OF BLUE AND GRAY The Veterans of Both Armies Scatter Flowers Together. G. A. R. MEMORIAL SERVICES Were Participated in by Camp Hardee-0ld
 Soldiers of Both Sides Talk and
 Feel Like Brothers.


 fittingly observed in this city yesterday by George A. Custer Post No. l, Grand Army of the Republic and George B. Thomas Camp No. 1, Sons of Veterans of United States of America. Camp Hardee No. 39 United Confederate Veterans, par tieipated in the exercises.
 At g o'clock a. m. the three named or ganizations marched to Oak Hill ceme- tery, where they gathered around the monument in the Grand Army lot. At the cemetery quite number of ladies had assembled to witness and ta xe part in the ceremonies.
 The general order of Commander-in- Chief Walker was read by Miss Jackson, daughter of the post commander, after which the local commander read his part of the ritual
 the e.conclusion of which the officer of the day spread flowers around the monu- ment.
 The exercises at the cemetery were closed with a quartette sang by MT. Jack son and family, when flowers were spread over the graves of the blue and the gray alike. The line of march to the cemetery was headed by Camp Hardee, United Con federate Veterans, followed by George H. Thomas Camp, Sons of Veterans, with the Grand Army in the rear.
 Memorial Services.
 The memorial exercises were held at $ o'clock last evening in the hall of the Grand Army on Nineteenth street, be- tween Second and Third avenues.
 The meeting was presided over by Post Commander Jackson, and the programme of exercises were as follows:
 Cornet solo-G. P. Jackson.
 praVer-PoSt Department Commander M. Bostick.
 Male quartette, Gently Fall, Oh Dews of Heaven'-Jacksons and Bosticks.
 Memorial address-Colonel Friedman of the Sons of Veterans.
 Remarks by Gen. F. s. Ferguson.
 Duet-Miss Lula Chairsell and Master Arthur Chairsell
 Remarks by Mayor J. A. VanHoose.
 Remarks by Maj W. H. Hunter on the Duties of Citizenship"
 Solo, Memorial Day"-MisS Lena
 Remarks by Capt. F. P. OBrien and pr. Dozier.
 Colonel Friedman.
 In his memorial address Colonel Fried man said that patriotism had been taught from time immemorial, and the inspira- tion has been inStilled in the bosomS or the youth at the mothers knee from the time Spain took possession of this coun- try down through the centuries until now. This country has been washed Tn the blood of our ancestry, but sweet peace reigns now and we hope forever. Those who took part In our war from 1860 to 1865 are now growing gray, while others rest peacefully under the sod, and on the 30th day of May of each year It should ever be our pleasure to do honor to their cause and honor to their memory.
 There was never a grander sight than was witnessed today, when beside that shaft In our cemetery on the one side stood the men who wore the blue and on the other men who wore the gray, decor ating together the graves of soldiers or the north and soldier of the south. It was good that our country was washed in such patriotic blood It was for the preservation of one flag and one country:
 Let us ever keep green the graves or our fellow soldiers and instHl in the minds of posterity that the nope, alm and desire of every man, woman and child should be to preserve this American union.
 General Ferguson.
 General Ferguson said he felt highly honored in being called upon to take part in the exercises and excused himself TOT not appearing in a dress suit, because ne had been transacting some important and paying business Tor one or ms olu yankee comrades.
 He said he claimed no higher heritage than that of a plain American citizen. He knew when he was whipped and was brave enough to acknowledge it. When muslSets sight low nations must obey. For the part he bore as soldier he had no apology to make. He never saw a United States flag until he saw it in the hands of the men who were shooting at him. "We sang," said he, "the same songs and worshped the same God that you did, but were taught it was the states we had to look to for protection. When I O meet flag and didn't, but l soon found It out. Our fathers have said: Pin the star to your breast or we cut the stripes around you
 T fought for what I believed was states rights. and so did you. respond ed to the call of my state, and when Abraham Lincoln, and God bless his memory and peace to his ashes. called for soldiers he did so through the gov ernors of the states and you responded. You obeyed the call of your state and obeyed the call of mine, and we wrote that call in blood which will live for ever. Teach these little boys that this is their country and there is no north and nD south.
 "Under the sod and dew,
 Awaiting the judgment day,
 Under the laurel the blue,
 Under the willow the gray
 ~rhis is your country and it Is mine, and when we go to decorate the graves of our fallen comrades let us think of them in no other way except as brave American soldiers"
 Mayor VanHoose Entertained the audience by relating touching war incident. Along the calm Potomac on one occasion the strains of Yankee Doodle'' were answered by cheers from federals on the one side and "Dixie" brought forth the rebel yell from the other; but when the notes of Home, Sweet Home" were waited like an echo across the bosom of that historical old river tears rolled down rugged 1heeks. This is one people and the simple touch of ma ture makes the world akin.
 Maj. w. H. Hunter.
 Mai. w. II. Hunter said: About thir- ty years ago myself and friends conclud- ed flags were scarce in this country and came down here to present them to Gen eral Ferguson and he got mad and want ed to fight.
 When Americans ask what they have done for the republic point to the gov ernment itself. It is not strange that we should be patriotic. We were taught at the mothers knee and by patriotic fa- thers.
 ''The sun of Heaven has never shone upon a land so fair or people so free.