The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-05-19
FOR MEMORIAL DAY.
communication From Fred S. Lowell
POST

a .
Post.
The Grand Army of the Republic
gladly and lovingly accepted the duty
of paving tribute to the memory OF our
dead comrades of the late war, ana
would respectfully direct the attention
of the comrades and the public to the
coming Memorial day, May 30, 1898.
On that day the Grand Army OF the
Republic presents to the world the
evidences of our devotion to our COM
rades, our love for our country ana TO
the Supreme Ruler for the blessings
which we enjoy.
Many of our late comrades have
answered the last roll call" and Will
no longer be found with US, in the ranks
or post room. The tribute they PAID
to others, we shall hereafter pay to
them. Upon the soldiers " WlndoWless
palace of rest" let us in tenderness
and love strew springs sweetest flowers
and let us comrades of war and citizens
of the Nation pay our tribute IN
sincerity and earnestness that Will
teach the world that the American
citizen soldier in death, as in life has
his memory firmly fixed in the hearts
of an appreciative people.
Nav the tribute to the memory OF
our dead, and the presence OF the Nv
ING defenders of the Republic form the
link between the achievements OF the
past, the security of the present and
the hope Of the future.
The attention of the public is called
to section XVII of general orders NO.
s. with which the members of Fred 5.
Lowell Post and Corps are most heartily
in accord.
"Section XVII. Post officers and
comrades need only to be reminded that
the " festival of our dead" is near at
hand to insure fitting observance. In
a few localities in the past there has
been a Dissertation Of the sacred Gay
bv the introduction of sports and
games at variance with the spirit of the
occasion and in perversion of the pur-
poses for which it was established.
Post officers and comrades should dis
courage such use of the day wherever
it is attempted"
At it's last meeting Fred S. Lowell
Post directed it's officers to protest in
| the name of the Post against the day
being desecrated by road races, ball
games and such special attractions,
which tend to distract the public mind
| from the true intent and meaning for
which the day was designated. And
in conformity with such direction the
Post hereby enters it's protest against
such dissertation, and especially this
wear when the " old heart wounds" are
again re-opened by the untimely death
of so many of our best and brightest
young men by the destruction of the
Maine in the harbor of Havana.
National exequial observances are
not peculiar to our country and age
Decoration day was first instituted on
! the motion of Aristides, in the Athen-
ian Senate, just after the battle oil
Plataea. Thrcydides gives us full
report of a Decoration day address de
liyered by Pericles more than two
thousand years ago. The ceremony o.
strewing the graves of the heroes o.
Plataea, Marathon and Salamis was
observed precisely as it is now centuries
before Christ. 1t was made the duty
of each citizen to attend, and bring
some tribute-a leaf, a flower, from its
humblest citizen, to the more elaborate
floral designs of the wealthy. 1t was
also the citizens duty to abstain from
such work as was prohibited upon the
days devoted to his God, and his relig
ion. 1t was part of the religion Of
the Greeks to bury their heroes with
solemn pomp and ceremony, mark
their tombs with especial care, and
annually streW them over with beauti-
full flowers at the expense of the nation.
Fred S. Lovel. Post and Corps are at
work upon their program for Memorial
day, and as soon as completed it will
be given to the public through the
press of the city, probably early the
coming week
By order of the Post.
M. FL. BACON, Post Adit.