The evening times., 1896-05-22
FLOWERS FOR THE HEROES
Grand Army Veterans Preparing
for Mem )riaI Day.
MANY GRAVES TO DECORATE
Services at Arlington VIII Be Very
Impressive and VIII Be in Charge
of Department Commander McEl-
roy-IsoIated Graves to He Remeni-
bered-In Other Cemeteries.

|
made by the department of the Potomac
| G. A. R., Tor the usual observation oi
Memorial Day. The general committee OF
arrangements, consisting of Department
| Commander john McElroy, chairman; As
sistant Adjt.-Gen. g. NJ. Hustead, -secre-
| tary; Assistant QuarterniasterG General A. s
| Taber, treasurer; all OF the commanders OF
the various posts; the present commanders
| 10 the number of nineteen, and one other
member of each post, we're appointed to
make the complete preparations. In all,
the committee numbers 90 veterans. TheiI
report will be submitted in full al ttbe meet
ing on Saturday night.
The preliminary work has all been allot
ted to several subconmittees, in order Ia
facilitate and simplify matters. The serv-
! ices at the various cemeteries will not be
materially unlike those of former years, in
which there is never a lack of interest and
hearty support.
| The finan nee committee, of which Post
| Commander William Gibson is chairman,
mas had charge OF raising the necessary
| funds, aud in this connection it should be
said that the greater portion OF the money
| contributed toward the expenses OF decora-
| ling the graves of the nations dead; has
been given by the comrades themselves.
| Certain amounts have also been donated by
department clerks and patriotic business
men. This year the Grand Army has on hand.
| a large supply Of the little flags which are
| placed upon the graves of every known
| Union soldier, and the expenses in this line
| will not be as heavy.
DECORATING THEGRAVEs.
The arrangements for decorating the.
graves and grounds has devolved upon
Judge Advocate Edward j. Sweet, as the
chairman OF the decorating committee.
Mr.. Sweet has communicated with the va
rious officials, and Obtained permission to
decorate all of the monuments and statues
in the city.
As far as can be adopted the plan of
having each post do homage to the comrade
after which it was named will be followed.
Thomas statue will be looked after by
George H. Thomas Post, and Lafayette by
;he post ofthat name.
The school authorities have been asked to
request the children of the public schools
to bring flowers to their building on the
Goth, 10 be turned over to the decorating
committee and Superintendent Smith of
of the Botanical Gardens, has granted per-
mission to the committee to take flow
ers from the gardens. On the grave OF
every hero Will he placed a floral offering
and the nag for which he fought.
A committee of transportation, Post Com
mander S. E. Faunce, chairman, and one
on music. to arrange for bands and singing,
completes the list OF subcomnlttees.
The exact program which will be followed
at the different cemeteries on the goth is
not quite complete. AS usual the greater
amount of interest centers on the National
Cemetery at Arlington. There the services
viii be in charge of Department Command
er MGEIroy. The resting places of more
than Z 900 heroes willeach be appropriately
than q 900 heroes will each be appropri-
ately decorated during the morning.
TO. TIE UNKNOWN DEAD.
At II O'Clock a salute OF thirteen guns
will be fired, and about the tomb erected
TO the memory Of the unknown dead will
gather group of young ladies' dressed in
white gowns, and an original hymn will he
sung. The remainder of the exercises will
be held in the amphitheater. Congressman
Brosius of Pennsylvania is announced as the
principal orator of the day. DR.. Calver
will read an original poem and the Marine
Bduu w III ne 1utft Wiu stisc
be singing of patriotic songs and several
shorter addresses.
The procession TO Arlington will consist
of the National Guard OF the District OF
Columbia, the G. A. R.. Sons of Veterans,
and the Old Guard. The line will sorm in
front of Grand Army Hall, and proceed
up Pennsylvania avenue TO Washington Cir
Gle. and from there the various bodies will
be transported On 'busses to the National
Cemetery The ladies' of the Loyal Le-
gion will assist in the decorations, and
furnish free lunches to the comrades.
At the Soldiers Home preparations have
been made by Senior vice-Depar@ment
Commander Dr. A. ]. Huntoon. The
graves will be decorated by the ladies of
Lafayette Corps and the Woman's Relief
Corps The ceremonies will be conducted
by Henry Wilson Post, No. II, Jacob
Moore, commander. The Third Artillery
Band will furnish music. The orator of
the day has not yet been selected.
Congressional Cemetery has been looked
after by Junior e-Department Com
mander DR.. Jacob W. Raub, assisted by
committee. Farragut Post, No. 10, with
Comrade Dinsmore, commander in charge,
will be in attendance. Here, too. an ora
ton will be delivered, and music furnished
AT OTHER CEMETERIES.
Graceland and Mount Olivet cemeteries
have been assigned to c Commander Meacham
Of George II Thomas Post, No. 10, which
viii observe proper ceremonies.
At Oak Hill and Holy Rood, George E.
Morris Post, No. 10, will conduct the
exercises, consisting Of speaking and sing,
ing and graves decorated by members of
the Woman's Relief Corps and others.
John A. Logan Post will see that no
graves go unmarked at ST. Elizabeth's and
AnacOstia. Short addresses by some of
the veterans will be made at each ceme-
terry. In all there are some 5000 SOL
diers buried in cemeteries other than Ar
lington, and not one will be left without
Its memorial Of respect.
A committee for the purpose OF placing
a tribute upon isolated graves will decorate
all those lying in scattered cemeteries and
in private family lots.
Post Commander Major Anderson has
been invited TO be present a nd take charge
of the ceremonies at Fredericksburg, and,
in company with Gen. Dudley, will con-
duct services there. He has not as yet
concluded his program.