Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-09
HONOR TO OUR DEAD.
THIS THE SENTIMENT OF OAK
woop MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE.
PREPARATIONS FOR TOMORROW.
The Celebration to he ON more
Elaborate Scale Than Usuai--Sen"-
tor Daniel the Orntor-Fine Parade
Of Military and Veterans.


Nav is the month OF flowers; 1t Is the
month OF the fulness OF sprinsing lfe'
The lakewood Memorial Association.
lhand In hand with the Hollywood ana
Hebrew associations. are going to unite
with her tomorrow and the two are
going to strew flowers upon the graves
Of the 5000 Confederate soldiers VINO
await the final roil-call In Oakwood
Cemetery.
The gentle days that have come have
already thrown over them a soft, dark
green drapery. Nature has cast aus
mantle over them that the noise OF
busy and an apparently careless worm
may not disturb them, but that they may
sleep on. For their days work Is cone.
They have earned their rest. And To-
morrow the gentle hands OF the widows
and daughters OF the dead who nestle
in dreams beneath that drapery Will
scatter flowers upon their codcaes ana
garland their dusty brows with wreatns
or eyelgreens.
BEAUTIFUL CITY OF THE DEAD.
Oakwood, quiet, FESTIVE, lulling to
pensyeness, never looked more beautiiui
than now. For weeks men have been
busily engaged in clearing here and
cleaning there, widening this walk,
grayeiling that, transplanting rose
upon this grave, pruning and fieshenih8
that upon another that II may reach the
iulness OF sweetness and perfection.
Every evening for weeks no." people
who own sections in the cemetery have
spent hours digging about the graves OF
lao or
where a rose should stand. Nature. too.
has done her part. and this City OF the
Dead has become even paradise OF
loneliness for the living.
On the right OF the main avenue as
one enters Is a smooth, green plot cur
into segments by well-trimmed walks
and driving avenues. And In the midst
of this plot rises a noble shaft twenty
five feet in the balmy air, which tells
the simple life-story OF those under It's
shadow. There was a cruel war. thirteen
States OF this Union believed that the
Cons titution under which the Union was
made allowed them to withdraw from
the federacy when 1t was best, In their
judgment to do so. They were opposed.
They fought for their convictions. In
the many battles, these, their sons, fell,
with their faces towards the enemy and
their eyes in mute appeal TO the Cod
of Freedom. Their bodies were brought
TO lakewood and buried there. The lands
that gave them birth loved them still
and erected this proud shaft TO tell of
them, and that the dearest honor OF the
soldier is the love Of him emDalmed In
the hearts of his countrymen
MONUMENT TO BE DECORATED.
This monument will feel no stiff
Grape about 1t. no tears will be shed
that day. but tomorrow morning fresh
evergreens and roses will be twined
about 1t and its mute grandeur will tell
not OF the death that has past but will
point upward to the life that is to
come. Scattered about the grounds will
be placed small Confederate flags, and 1t
is a fair thought that ordains this. The
soldiers there would be glad 10 know
that they were sleeping under the flag
unsullied by them, never once suilled
after them, for which their blood was
shed. But above the living will float
the Stars and Stripes-the living under
the flag OF this united country; the
dead under the flag Of the country that
died with them. The gates of the
cemetery will be wide open and from
post TO post will be raised one arch OF
immortelles, and on this arch will be
written the sentiment which is inscribed
to-day-"Al Honor to Our Dead"
MARCH TO THE CEMETERY.
The column will be formed at Broad
and Twenty-ffth streets and viii move
promptly at 43O o'clock. Every effort
will be made TO see that no delay Is
caused, and for this every individual
connected with the procession must him
self be prompt and punctual.
Leading the column will be the First
Regiment of Infantry. The Richmond
Light Infantry Blues. In battalion, viii
follow, and just behind them win como
the Stuart Horse Guard The Richmond
Howitzers will bring up the rear of the
active soldiery. The remainder OF the
procession will organize as follows:
X. e.. Lee Camp, with mounted detail
George r. Pickett Camp, with mounted
detail; Sons of Veterans. and ladies Of
the Hollywood, Hebrew. ana lakewood
associations in carriages.
great touristwagon will also be
sent out TO the Soldiers Home TO bring
the veterans to do honor TO their dead
comrades.
CHEF MARSHAL'S AIDS.
Mr. John T. Hughes Is chief marshal.
and has invited about two hundred gen.
tlemen of the city To act as his aids.
Foremost among these Is Colonel g.
Perez ElWeS, VINO acts as cnlet OF Sidll.
These two gentlemen have made up their
minds that no hitch shall occur. and Il
is well assured that success in every
feature Of the pageant will attend their
labors.
The line of march viii be out Twenty
fifth 10 T. street, from T. 10 lakewood
avenue, to the cemetery.
When the cemetery IL gained the
vehicles In the procession will be allowed
to enter the grounds. but no others.
Then Judge II. c. Minor will take charge
OF .he ceremonies. The programme
which will be carried out, is as follows:
Prayer by Rev. DR.. Vanderslce; Sold ess'
Rest" sung by the East-End Quartette;
Grafton. Hon. John W. Daniel; Amer
ica," sung by the assembly, led by Cap
tain Frank w. Cunningham; Bencdction.
Rev. MIR. Quarles; Taps; Salute. mill
tary.
At the close Of the exercises the mill
tary will be retained or dismissed at the
discretion of the respective comman-
dants The day will then be done, and
tired feet will turn homewards, but
memory will fresh with thoughts OF those
who once grew very, very tired, nay.
even gave their lives away to purchase
that which they believed was right.
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