Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-02
TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD.
MEMORIAL DAY OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE
Patriotic Event Proves of More Than Usua
Interest To Our Public. Flags anc
Flowers Everywhere.

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Interest To Our Public. Flags and
Flowers Everywhere.
Not since the year of its institution
has Memorial day had more general
observance III Grand Rapids and
Centraia than on last Monday.
| Memories of '61-'65 revolutionized by
the spirit of the soldier sons who have
gone to the front in '9S made the
day one of aroused veneration for the
nations heroic dead, and of honor for
the new patriotism born to defend the
stars and bars that freemen love.
Observance Of the day began here at
$50 p. m. when the procession formed
on Main street near city hall. Exmayor
Geo. W. Baker, mounted, acted as
marshal of the day; NJ. S. Pratt, COM
mander of the G.. A. r., was in charge
of the old veterans; and W. H. Carey
was in command of the order of
| Catholic Foresters. Suggestive OF the
| time when our fathers made history in
THE COS, Samuel Parker took his old
place in line playing the fife. assisted
by William Hadley. Arthur Houston
was trumpeter, Carson Burt and Hubert
Colcord beat the drums. Business
houses were closed during the forenoon
and the public joined widely in cele-
bration. Line of march to the
cemeteries was in following order:
officer of Parade 0nounted)
Flies and Drums
Trumpeter
Grand Army Post No. %
Flower Girls
Children of Parochial School
Catholic order of Foresters
Centralia School Children
Carriages and Citizens
At the cemeteries, visitors were
gathered in greater numbers than ever
before seen there. On every grave
flowers were strewn, and not one
soldiers resting place was forgotten in
the distribution of tributes. The pro-
cessOn marched first to Forest Hill
cemetery, where over the grave of the
Memorial day ritual of the G. A. R.
WAS read by Messrs. M. S. Pratt and
w. A. Keyes. Doubly impressive
seemed the patriotic services on this
occasion. From Forest Hill the march
continued to the Catholic cemetery,
where Foresters, assisted by Post No.
%, deposited beautiful floral cross
over the remains of Rev. Father
Beyerle. A short service was con.
Quoted here, then the columns marched
back to town, while many people
fingered long TO scatter flowers and
continue decoration of mounds in the
city of the dead.
PUBLIC EXERCISES, OPERA HOUSE.
In the afternoon Grand Opera House
was filed with an audience crowded to
the doors. The stage was elaborately
decorated in patriotic arrangement, the
central object being large floral battle
ship upon which was inscribed in white
letters "The Names 266" Commander
Pratt acted as master of ceremonies
and cad the ritual orders to his post
assisted by Acting Chaplain Keyes.
Theodore W. Brazeau was introduced
for short address and gave to bis
hearers few we'll chosen remarks
upon the "Love of Liberty" Rev. T.
A. Nimits, speaker of the day, elo-
quently eulogized departed and living
heroes of the great civil strife, and
spoke Interestingly to the gray haired
boys in blue before him. A double
quartet, including Chas. F. kellogg,
Mrs G. F. kellogg, Mrs. F. j. Cameron,
Mrs. w. E. Little, Miss Grace Pratt,
Miss Mae Chase, Elbert Kellogg and
Fred Stamm, interspersed the program
with inspiring songs and did themselves
proud by their efforts. Their prettiest
number entitled Beautiful Flag of
Liberty" received hearty encore. The
words of this piece are printed on an
other page of this issue. They are
worth learning by heart.
The exercises at Opera House closed
public demonstrations for Memorial
day, 1898, but it was evident that young
and old wended their way to respective
homes more deeply impressed with the
lessons of war and of patriotism than
they have been since the great struggle
| thirty-fye wears AGO