Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-06-04
TO MEMORY DEAR.
Tears and Flowers for the Dead.
Cheers for the Living--Large, Inter-
estlng, Civic Assemblage Par
ticipates.


Memorial Day in testimony OF
the love and affection of the living
toilers, for the soldiers gar
nered to final rest in the great and
sad struggle of brothers, occurred
on Monday last, and was specially
noted, by general cessation of bust
ness, not in the nature Of holiday,
but in sense of sober thought, OF
quiet meditation, and OF such de-
monstration that betokened affec
tion for the heroes gone, with won.
dering outlook as to when death
in the struggle now present on sea
and land, shall increase the heroes
and multiply the number OF homes
of the dead, for futher tears and adj
ditional garlands, for duty well per.
formed, and life work ended in hu-
manity's onward march. Peace and
rest are with those in death within
the flower strewn grave, doubt, ex.
pectancy, which of must go, sur
rounds those now at the front. The
parade was a large demonstration,
worthy of place as an important fac
tor in American citizenship, and a
visible tie of the present with the
historic past. At the corner Of
Burke and Queen streets, the parade
formed as follows: Mechanics
Band, Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps,
Martinsburg Fire Department, Jun
ior Order Of United American Me.
chanics, Children of the Confeder-
acy, The City Band, Lincoln Post
No. /, G. A. r., Fitz Hugh Lee
Camp, Con federate Veterans, Sons
of Confederate Veterans The
route was south to South Queen
street, thence west to Norborne
Cemetery and st. Joseph's, where
the graves were profusely and ap-
propriately decorated. The line
countermarched, via Queen to Burke
street and thence to Green Hill
Cemetery, where, after music and
the strewing of flowers, a thoughtful
and ornate address was made by
the Hon. George F. Evans, attent-
lively listened to by the large con-
course of people.
The colored citizens gave similar
observance, as led by their band the
Sons of Enoch and the Daughters of
Rebeka, attended by a large gather
ing of their people, marched in pro-
cession to their cemetery and placed
flowers, their tokens of remembrance
and praise, on the mounds of their
departed loved ones. Turning
homeward the bands and the people
wendell their way with patriotic
purpose to the Cumberland Valley
Railroad freight station to partici.
pate in the exercises of floating "Old
Glory" the starry banner of freedom,
to the liberty loving, Heaven guided
breeze. The sweet voices OF girls,
in tuneful symphony and inspired
cadence sang "America," followed
by the Mechanics Band with the
thrilling notes of the "Star Spangled
Banner" An opportune moving OF
the halyards and the National en-
blem was unfurled, speeding away
from its protecting and unfolding
folds several carrier pigeons, typical
of liberty to all and thestrength to
make it inviolate. Mr.. W. A. Gard j,
agent of the G. V. R. r. gracefully
welcomed and thanked all for their
kind and encouraging attendance
and in well chosen remarks intro
duced our we'll known citizen, Judge
E. B. Faulkner, as the orator of the
occasion. Fully well did the Judge
respond and meet the requirements
of the vast assemblage of people. In
thought, rhetoric and delivery he
measured up to the demand and
maintained the reputation acquired
and won as a bright, ready, apt
speaker and heady, brainworthy
scholar and patriot. The flag was
presented by the Railroad Company.
Station, stand and surrounding OBJ
jects were adorned with bunting, in
fact, decoration was everywhere.
Thus ended the events of day, that
will remain memorable in the history
of the town, redolent of brotherly
unity, brimful of a fruitage that will
be continued permanent, through and
by coming generations.