Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-01
MEMORIAL DAY
As Observed by Veterans and
Citizens Of Our State.
Graves Of Departed Comrades Covered
With Choisest Of Flowers.
And Their Memories Honored in Loving and
Eloquent Words.


rial day was very successfully observed
here, today, under the auspices of Cutler
Post, No. As, G. A. r., and the residents
generally participating. The graves
were decorated in the morning by de-
tachments from the post, under the d.
rection of Commander John j. Bailey.
The exercises in the chapel were held
before large number. Thomas Searles
was the chairman. The regular Memo
rial services were held, with singing by
the church quartet, which was excel
lent.
The Grafton was given by Walter Lee
Stevens of Chelsea. 1t was very fine
address and was given with much force
and expression. showing the speaker t.
be of more than ordinary ability. After
| the exercises. all those present par
| took of a collation. furnished by the
ladies of Chelsea.
| Mr.. Stevens spoke as fo!lows
/ 1t is with Il feeling Of incompetency
| from the standpoint of actual knowledge,
| that | stand here to address you upon
| this most sacred and hallowed occasion,
| that day upon which we bow with un-
| covered heads at the graves of departed
| friends and pay tribute to the honored
| dead.
| 1t is but the oft repeated story that /
| can bring to your minds. today, for so
| long as time shall last. the facts and in
cidents connected with the great Civil
War must remain unchanged. and the
recalling of those old war scenes to your
mental vision and to mine will differ only
as the writer or speaker portrayS them
more wildly. or brings us into closer
touch with them through the agency of
tongue or pen.
To me. the Civil War is but a fact in
history, and as read the story Of that
great struggle, can form but a slight
conception of the trials and the suffering
endured by those who gave their lives
that their countrys honor might be pre-
served.
To you. members of the Grand Army.
the story is ever fresh. The cali for
troops was but he commencement of
your mission. and Your response, its full
tillment. To you, the cause for which
you fought was a just cause. and the
principles which actuated you We're the
principles of right and justice. To the
present generation, the fulfllment of
your mission is equally evident. and we.
today, are reapng the fruits and viewing
the laurels won by you Southern
fields.
Some 30 years ago came the call for
troops. it came To fathers, 1t came to
sons and brothers: it was heard through
city and town. Through State and nation,
until the country realized that 1t must
cope with a question of greater dimen-
sions than it had ever had TO deal with
before. The spirit in which you received
that summons and the manner in which
you responded is already known to you
all. If there be one among you who has
never heard the story, you have but to
use your powers OF observation and per-
ception and your mind wanders back
over the past, you will note that where
80 years ago ruled the lash. the laws of
justice and equality reign supreme
Again If you have never heard the
story of that terrible struggle the cos;
in human life and the glorious results
that it attained. you have but to look
back of the records of this country for
the last quarter of a century, upon its
principles of equality. of loyalty and of
patriotism. and upon that grand old en-
blem, the Stars and Stripes. which stands
for all that is good and true and pure.
TO realize the cost of the war in human
life. you have but to note the widows and
the orphans and to listen to their story
of a husband and a father who left a
happy home 30 years ago. only to suffer
and die upon some battlefield beyond the
aid of helping hands.
Away off in quiet country town in one
of our Northern states, is a humble cot
tage. Fancy paints for me the picture as
ii might have been, 80 years ago. Night
is coming on. and, in the doorway. / can
see an aged mother and she stands there
in the twilight awaiting the return of
her soldier boy. The war is over. and
did he not promise to return? After
weary days and nights of watching he
has not come. yet ever hopeful. she
starts at the sound of a footstep at the
door. thinking perhaps he may have come
at last. 1t is the same sad story. follow
ing his leader in the thickest of the fight
or perhaps cheering some faltering com
rade on to victory. he is shot down with
n,,1 81.
over. wrapped in the colors for which
he fought and died. he began that long
sleep from whose slumbers he will not
wake until the last bugle call shall sum-
mon him to the ranks of that great i'm
mortal army where suffering and death
shall not be known and whose battles
shall he won by love.
You have but to look upon what now
remains of once vast and mighty army
and as you note the bowed head the
Bonded form and the faltering step. you
can form but a slight conception of the |
great number of lives that were sacri-
feed and the hours of pain and agony
borne by men of heroism. for their coun-
try's sake.
Members of the Grand Army, when you |
We're called upon to leave your families. |
your homes, your friends and all that |
was dear and sacred to you then. per-
haps you did not realize what a fearful |
struggle lay before you, yet you pushed !
on to the thickest of the battle you /
fought and bled and forced yourself to |
the very lannon's mouth. that your pur-
pose might be fulfilled and your victory |
won. and when the roar of battle had |
died away. you found yourself victorious |
in a cause whose principles were those
of the nations honor and whose effects |
were to bless mankind through all the
years to come.
To you who are more advanced in
years than the rising generation to you
whose feet have trod the pathway of life
for many years, the causes and effects
of the great Civil War. its mission and
its results may appear in a vastly differ
emit light than to those of us who view
only the effects of that great struggle.
To me. however. the lesson which ii
teaches is one of vast Importance
The Roman Empire. with all its splen-
dor. it's fame and its grandeur was
builded only at the cost of toll, of suf-
fering and of human life, yet from it we
draw a lesson of perseverance, of fidelity
of faithfulness and of loyalty, such as
that possessed by none but he who bore
the name of Roman citizen
So. from the Civil War. with its at
tendant conflicts and struggles, followed
each by victory and success. We draw a
lession of perseverance of fidelity and of
LOYALTY such as that exhibited by the
Continued on rage -