The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-12
THE COLUMBIAN.
BLOOMSBURY, PA.
MEMORIAL DAY.
General Orders No. IL.

SylFaIld, Sldlu Army Vi Tie NCpuD-
lie, S. w. Cor. Fifth and Chestnut
Streets.
PHILADELPHIA, April S, 1898.
I. 'Ts thlrty-three years since the
rifle and the sabre were displaced by
the hammer and the plough; thirty
three years since the uniform of blue
was exchanged for the habillments of
peace thirty-three years OF achieve
ments that impress the truism, "Peace
hath her victories no less renowned
than war;"
Monuments have been reared to
our heroes and to their heroic deeds,
some casting shadows on placid waters,
Others standing above mountain tops;
''but neither classic bust, nor monu-
mental marble, nor lofty cenotaph,
nor stately urn, nor enduring bronze,
nor everlasting granite, can add to
the glory of our dead comrades in this
land they loved SO WE'LL"
Again we are approaching Memorial
Day, again, with fragrant flowers,
sweet music and patriotic eloquence,
shall we stand by the side of the
graves of our comrades and pay to
them the tribute of our hearts affec-
tion-of our loving remembrance of
their gallant deeds-and over the little
green mounds, which are now their
blvouacs, renew our devotion to their
memories and to the cause for which
they battled.
Loving hands shall place the ever
green and the rose, the lily and the
violet, on the hillocks OF green which
mark the resting places of our soldier
and sailor dead, sweet voices shall
sing their praises and fervent hearts
shall teach eloquent tongues to rev.
erentially voice gems of thought in
memory OF our heroes gone.
Our Memorial Day is not day for
sack. cloth and ashes it is not day
for mourning or for fasting, nor should
it be day devoted by any patriotic
American to frivolous festivities or to
holiday pastlmes. 1t is day for the
flag. for flowers, for music, for patriot
l. ism, a day for communing with the
dead who died that the Nation might
live, for the dead who offered all they
had that "this Nation might not perish
from off the earth"
Let al the people gather spring
/ timx htist garlands to decorate
our ehves; not one shall be
forgotten. In twlnlng wreaths on
monuments to leaders we pay tribute
to those who were led; a rose bud on
the grave of private soldier or sailor
symbolizes our love for the memory OF
all who wore the Union blue whether
on land or on sea; whether they sleep
their last sle p amid tablets of marble
or of bronze or found their final rest
ing-place beneath the waters of our
rivers and seas.
'sThe meanest rll, the mightiest river
Roll mnging with their fame forever"
ii. If arrangements have not al
ready been made for attendance oil
Posts at Divine Service on Sunday,
May 29th, they should be perfected al
once. This is one of the essential
features of our Memorial Services,
and Churches of all denominations
will gladly aid in your participation in
the worship of God.
III. 1t is recommended that, where
feasible, Posts will arrange with the
Pastors of the churches at which this
part of the service is held, to select
texts illustrative of "The gains te
American citizenship by the success:
of the Union soldier" and "The un
questioned and everlasting right O
the cause of those who battled for the
Union"
Nv. The success attending the
visits to the public schools by the
comrades on the school-day next pre-
ceding May goth has been so grea
that the continuance of the custom i!
urged. Tell the children in your owl
way what the old flag represents, how
it was followed in suffering, DANCE
and death how it was brought bacl
with not star missing and with free
dom for all emblazoned on its stripes
Impress love of country and the duties
and blessings of American citizenship
what it cost 20 preserve it for then
and for those who shall follow them
Tell the school children of our Me
morial Day, and what it means, ant
the future men and women of America
with the object lesson of patrioti
teaching from the lips of living mel
who bore their part gallantly on battle