Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-30
HONOR DEAD HEROES.
Rock Island Reveres the Memory
of Departed Wearers of
the Blue.
FLOWERS sTREwN THEIR GRAVES

Exercises in Market Square, Where Patri-
otto Grafton Is Deliver ed by Hon. Charles
Atkinson, and at the Court House Monu-
m.nt and at Chippiannock Cemetery
The Procession.
The head of a grateful and reverent
nation was bowed today in memory
to the dead of war. upon the graves
of whom were tenderly laid the flow
ers of spring. in Rock Island,
as usual, the observance of the
occasion was of public character.
business generally suspending, and
the people embliDg to do honor to
the sleeping heroes, those who gave
up their lives in the civil conflict, and
not forgetting those of the boys who
fell in the late Spanish-American war,
the remains of some of whom
rest in the national cemetery at
Rock Island arsenal.
Flags were flung from public build
ings along Second avenue. and over
the line of march and throughout the
city the national colors were unfurled
TO the breeze.
charge of John Buford pest, Grand
al III VI Iuc lsc puOlIC- Il NC plOSCo-
sion formed at 9 O'Clock on the south
side of the Court House square, and
moved as follows under the direction
of Marshal of the Day john Ohlweiler:
East on Third avenue to Twentieth
street. north on Twentieth street to
Second avenue, west on Second ave
nue. to Market square, the line of
march being as appended:
Platoon of Police
Bleuer's Band.
Company A
Naval Reserves ana all Other Soldiers of the
Late War
City council
Sons of Veterans
Grand Army of Republic and Union Vet. rams
Union.
Exercises on Market Square.
Mayor William McCsnochie offici-
ated as master of ceremonies at Mar
ket Square, where n large concourse
of people had gathered in response to
the bugle call sounded by Tom Flynn.
A fervent prayer was offered by Rev.
G. +. Taylor, late pastor of the First
Baptist church. A patriotic selection
was played by Bleuer's band, and u
double quartet. composed of Sewall
Dodge, j. A. johnson, b. +. Boydston,
Charles Lutes. c. G.. Taylor, j. +. Rob-
inson, l.. c. Daugherty and G. A. Hoge
sang "A Tear for the Comrade That's
Cone The Grafton was delivered
by Hon. Charles Atkinson, an attor-
ney in the employ of the government
in connection with Hennepin canal
legal work, and who is making his
headquarters in Rock Island. 1.-The
cross is still in the eternal blue and
the nations of earth are being con-
quered by it," said Mr.. Atkinson.
The vanguard of the hosts, battling
for humanity, is America. American
civilization is both distinct and unique.
Knightly chivalry of ancient days
has often been told in oratory and song,
y ct in our own land there has been
and is a chivalry unsurpassed and I'M
equaled. Difficulties bring out the
true American spirit. The struggle
for independence developed powers,
forces and resources not known hith-
erto. From 81 to '65, amid the
greatest civil conflict of the world,
our civilization stood a supreme test.
Amid the stern realities of national
life-amId it's hardships, privations
and trials, brain and sinew have
been developed-brain that rev.
olutionized the realm of ideas
and thought; sinew that conquered
all difficulties and overcome all obsta-
cles. The contest from 1861 to 1865
was the same that has been waSed
since the dawn of history; contest
between aristocratie power on the one
hand and the people on the other.
When the bell rang out and notified
the world that the great Declaration
of Independence had been signed, one
of the mightiest onward movements
toward universal freedom began.
It's Old Glory Still.