Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-01
MEMORIAL DAY.
"A FITTING Observance of the Day in Wa
tertewn-The Nations Dead
Remembered

Remembered.
No more ideal day in the weather
line could be asked for than was Mem
orial day of 1898, and the impressive
ceremonies that marked the day in
Watertown were in perfect keeping
with the natural beauty of the en-
vironments. The honoring of the
nations dead heroes was given re-
spectful attention, and employees for
the most part enjoyed a holiday The
city also contained many visitors from
the surrounding country.
The decorating with flowers and
flags of the graves of all soldiers
known to buried in the cemeteries of
Watertown was attended to during the
forenoon by details from the Grand
Army post. The resting Oplaces of
ninety heroes were thus honored.
The principal exercises of the day
occurred in the afternoon Large
crowds were gathered in the down.
town districts to witness the parade,
which formed, according to program,
at 1:30 o'clock at the intersection of
Main and First streets. The process
sion was in charge of Captain Fred
Kusel, commander of 0. d. Pease post,
No. "a, g.. A. R., assisted by Past
Commander John Habhegger. The
order of march was: Sinnissippi band;
Northwestern University cadets, Cap
tain G. Hinenthal; German Old Sol
diers' society, Captain T. Kiekbusch;
Watertown Drum corps; o. D. Pease
post; school boys company; carriages
with speakers and chaplain; veterans
and citizens in carriages. One Of the
prettiest features Of the parade was
the company of school boys, all of
whom carried flowers and wore crepe
on their arms, and one Of whom bore
miniature model Of the lamented
battleship Maine"
The column marched to Oak Hill
cemetery, where, over the grave of
Captain Ernst Off, the impressive and
beautiful memorial services of the c..
A. &. ritual were conducted. The line
OF march was then taken up to Turner
Opera house, which was filled with a
patriotic audience to listen to the clos
ing exercises.
Commander Kusel presided and
stated that, owing to a severe attack
of quinsy, Hon. George Grimm, of Jef-
fersOn, who had been announced as
the orator of the day, would be unable
to fulfil that function and that his
place would be supplied by Rev. George
Z. Weiss, pastor of the Congrega-
tional church. Judge Grimm, how
ever, was present and made few ap-
propriate remarks at the close. Rev.
Mr.. Weiss proved himself en5Ielv
equal to the emergency and was heard
in a splendid patriotic effort that
stirred his auditors to the greatest
enthusiasm and provoked emphatic
bursts of approval and applause.
Inc speaker referred with pride to
the fact that Memorial day, instead of
being observed sectionally as hereto
fore, is to be hencefOrth a national
holiday, when the Blue and the GRAY
shall unite in doing it homage.
The Grand Army post and the Wo-
man S Relief corps are entitled to high
credit for the pleasing success that
attended this years observance of
Memorial day. They, in turn, are in
debted to many citizens for donations
OF flowers and greens, for which thew
return thanks. Among the most beau
THU effects in this line was a wreath
OF smilax, tied with the German ma
tlonol colors and the United States
national colors at opposite points, and
with a card attached bearing this in
scrlption: E'In memoriam of all brave
men who offered their lives for the
preservation Of this, our new country.
From the German Veterans and Old
Soldiers society of Watertown.n