The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-06-03
In Memory of Our Country's De-
tenders.

might be secured, were again deco
rated last Monday. 1t was the 3lst
observance of Memorial Day and the
sorrowful recollections that always go
with the day were accompanied with
anxious reflections in the thought that
the country was engaged in another
war and that many thousands OF our
young men were in camp waiting the
call to battle. The war of the rebel
lion was a sectional one, but now all
sections are united and, for the first
time in half a century, are fighting
side by side under the flag of our
Union to give an oppressed people the
liberty that we enjoy. We cannot
tell what the future has in store for
our brave volunteers, but it is the ear
nest PRAYER of all that their response
to the call may not mean the sacrifice
of their lives. Memorial Day brings
more clearly before us the deeds of
our brave soldiers and gives us a les
son in patriotism that increases the
love of our country. 1t IS well that
we have set apart this one day to pay
tribute to the nations dead and that
once a year all over our broad land
flowers are placed on their graves and
the scenes they passed through on bat
tlefelds told by eloquent tongues.
The Memorial exercises in Bradford
were as follows:
At the schools.
There was large attendance at the
Memorial exercises in the school rooms
Friday afternoon. The rooms were
all decorated with flags and bunting and
pictures of men made famous by deeds
OF valor on land and water. In Prln-
cipal Prichard's room the exercises
were of a general character, but all
patriotic and appropriate to the day.
They consisted of declamations, essays
and songs. In Prof. Lovejoy's rooms
the exercises were devoted to Yer
monters who had won fame in battle
and their brave deeds were told by the
young people in prose, poetry and
song On the walls were pictures OF
these famous Vermonters, Admiral
Dewey's occupying a most prominent
position. In Miss Jones roomethe eX-
ercises were particularly attractive
and the room was very prettily deco
rated with the national colors, flowers
and pictures of well-known heroes.
There was a good sprinkling of G.1 a.
r. men among the 10 or so people here.
! The children went through their reel
tatlons, flag drills and songs in a very
entertaining manner. Miss Chamber
| Inns room was also nicely decorated.
Recitations, songs and flag drills also
made up the program here and the
| teacher and parents present had rea-
son to be proud of the manner IN
which the children carried 1t out: In
Miss Armstrong; room, the Primary
school, the little people were as patri-
otic as their older brothers and sisters
| in the Woods school building. The
room was decorated with flags and
bunting and the exercises were of the
kind to give the children lesson IN
patriotism and the love due from them
to their country. Addresses were
made by visitors in the different rooms.
The programmes were ell interesting
and we'll carried out.
Sunday Services.
The Sunday Memorial services were
held in the Methodist church, which
was splendidly decorated with flags,
bunting and evergreen wreaths. In
front of the pulpit were two stacks of
arms The music by the choir was all
appropriate and nicely rendered. Rev.
II. T. Barnard assisted in the services
and offered an eloquent and touching
PRAYER. The sermon was delivered by
Rev. A. H. Webb, his text being tax
en- from the first three verses of the
124th Psalm. The text was selected
for the reason that in all cases of great
difficulty being successfully overcome
there was evidence of Divine aid. For
the glory of our great country credit
must first be given to God. In all its
struggles this country has placed eX-
plicit trust in God and the evidence of
his aid as seen in our splendid achieve
ments. We next give credit to
the veterans of 81, who fought for
a larger freedom and the preservation
of our Union. Since this struggle SO
wears have passed and, new genera
ton has come which until within a
few weeks knew nothing of war only
as they listen to the old veterans stO-
ries and looked upon his scars. To-
morrow for the 31st time, the graves
of the fallen comrades will be decor
ated. The stars and stripes mark the
location of these graves and this Is es-
pecially fitting. The flag has a grand
history. 1t gave freedom to the negro,
who Il yes it and is willing to die for it.
1t made him a citizen of the grandest
country in Gods land. Mr. Webb
spoke of the great progress made by
this nation since the war, and said
that grand as the past war was the fu.
ture should be more grand. In clos,
ing he made a plea for the Anglo-SaX-
on alliance, hoping that the time
would come when the stars and stripes
and the Union Jack would join in adj
vancing civilization throughout the
world. Let us by all means clasI
hands with our brothers across the sea
and 60 to work in the name OF the
Lord.
Memorial Day.
= The Memorial day exercises in thu
place were very brief owing to the fall
ure of the town to make the usual appro
priation. At O'Clock the q. A. X. an'
the WOman's Relief Corps gathered
the cemetery to decorate the graves
- dead comrades. From there 30 or NOR
. from the Post, Corps, and Sons OF NeteI
= ans went to Fairlee, where dinner wa
, served them in the basement OF IN
I church, Ihe dinner was PROVIDED o.
Fairlee ladies and was one OF the mrs
! class kind they are always reauy 10 &c
l M. The procession formed at cloch
: the three organizations being escorted I
the cemetery by the school children an