The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-06-10
DECORATION DAY.
Parades and Memorial Services in Honor
of the Dead Heroes.

of the Dead Heroes.
Memorial Day was generally observed In
Washington. The Senate adjourned over
for the day and the House held only
ffteen-minute session. All the depart
ments and the business houses were closed
and the day was given up to patriotic op-
seryance and tributes to the heroic dead.
The bronze statues OF the Nations heroes
on land and sea in the Government reserva-
tions and parks were shrouded in the hags
under which they fought. The most I'M
posing ceremonies were held in the ma
tional cemetery, at Arlington. The exer-
cises there were made particularly memor-
able b- the presence Of President Mckinley.
Exercises were subsequently held at the
Amphitheatre. Among the distinguished
guests on the stage besides the President
were yice-President Hobart, Secretary OF
State Sherman, Senator Allison and the
delegates to the International Postal Union.
Services were also conducted in the Sol
diers' Home Cemetery, at the tomb OF Gen.
eral John A. Logan. and in the Congress
sional, St. Elizabeth's, Oak Hill, Holy
Hood and all of the other cemeteries in
and about Washington, where the Union
dead found resting places. A noticeable
feature OF the exercises was the great in
roads the past few years have made in the
ranks Of the veterans. In several instances
the bands outnumbered the posts they
were escortipg.
Battle Monument, at West Point, was
dedicated on Memorial Day and passed in
to the hands Of the Federal Government.
The splendid shaft was erected in memory
of the officers and men Of the regular
army who fell in the late war.
The ceremonies incident to the dedica-
tion were held in temporary amphithea-
tre Of light timbers and bunting, in the
form OF semi-circle and open all around.
Associate Justice David J. Brewer, OF the
Supreme Court Of the Urited States, was
the orator of the dav. The monument
was presented to the army by Briga-
dier-Gcneral John NJ. Wilson and was
received by Lieutenant General John
NJ. Schofleld. retired, on behalf OF the army,
who in turn presented 1t to the general
and Secretary Of War, received the shaft
for the Government, and after his speech a
National salute was fired and the band
played sThe Star Spangled Banner"
The Memorial Day Of the war veterans
began in New York City with the parade Of
the Grand Army posts and ended with the
exercises in the Metropolitan Opera House.
In the interval between these events 10000
persons gathered at Grants tomb to wit
ness tne cereuOuleS Ineio, unuoh -.
auspices of U. 8. Grant Post OF
Brooklyn. The procession was the shortest
New York City has ever witnessed in honor
of Memorial Day since the great rite was
established. The Memorial Day exercises
held at the Metropolitan Opera House in
the evening were largely attended. They
consisted OF vocal and instrumental music,
short address by Mayor Strong, who pre-
sided, and an Grafton by General George B.
Loud.
Business was suspended almost entirely
in Brooklyn. There was an immense out
pouring Of people to the parks and various
suburban resorts and to the vantage points
from which to view the parade, which, as
usual, was the special feature In the cele-
bration. With the exception Of q percepti-
BILE thinning out In the ranks OF the veter.
ans, the demonstration was the equal OF
any Of its predecessors. In accordance with
time-honored custom, tho column was
formed along the streets converging on the
fountain In Bedford avenue at the east END
Of the town.
The memorial structure on Boston Com
mon, In honor Of Colonel Robert Gould
Shaw and the colored; men OF the Fifty
fourth Massachusetts, Regiment, who fell at
Fort Wagner, South Carolina, in 1868, was
dedicated on Decoration Day. Colonel
Shaw enlisted in the Seventh Regiment OF
New York City in 1861, and 1t took pary In
the parade In Boston.
An immense assembly joined in the cere.;
monies of Decoration Day at the National
Cemetery at Vicksburg, Miss. In accord
ance with custom of years a delegation
of Confederate veterans took offerings OF
flowers to the cemetery in the afternoon
and scattered them over the graves.
At Chattanooga, Tenn, graves OF 14,Ooo
Union soldiers buried in the National Gene
terry were decorated with elaborate cere.
monies. Captain J H. MACEDONIAN, OK
Washington, delivered the oration. An I'M
mense throng Of people were present.