The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-23
REMINDERS FOR MEMORIAL DAY
THE GRAND ARMY DECLARES
AGAINST ITS DISSERTATION.
All Good Citizens Urged to Join In
Honoring the Heroic Dead In the
Customary Way.

The first reminder of the approach
! OIL Memorial or Decoration day is given
by the Grand Army of the Republic
This is in keeping with the custom of
The organization of the veteran Union
soldiers. General orders from the de-
oartment of Utah, G. A r., have been
/ issued, advising that arrangements be
made by old soldiers, patriotic citizens
ana societies, National Guardsmen. the
returned soldiers from the late war with
spain, teachers and school .i7ren.
for the proper observance of the day.
In calling upon the people to follow
the beautiful custom of decorating the
graves Of the soldier dead, the Grand
Army veterans, through the proclama-
uon from department headquarters,
take opportunity to declare against the
improperly of Decorating the national
day of mourning by indulgence in ex-
curslons, festivals and games. The hope
Is expressed in the proclamation that
on May 80 the people will heed the ad-
monitions and join with all good citi-
zens by properly and solemnly observ-
ing the memorial customs in honor of
the heroic and loving dead
Grand Army Orders.
Following are the genera! orders
from the state commander of the G,
\. R.:
Headquarters Department of Utah
Grand Army of the Republicl-
General Order No. ,:
I-Returning spring has again brought
near our sad and sacred anniversary
Memorial Day. and with il fond nerooriee
OF our departed comrades and the solemn
duties of seeing that the occasion is OBJ !
served with appropriate ceremonies and
exercises. TO that end the various posts
and relief corps and camps of Sons of |
Veterans in this department will appoint |
committees, solicit contributions of flow |
ers, endeavor to secure music and speak |
erS ana see that every Union soldiers |
grave in the state of Utah is marked with /
a flag and adorned with flowers and that |
appropriate exercises are held in post |
halls, cemeteries or other suitable nIaceS
And let not the graves of confederate
soldiers be neglected. Let us strew them
also with springs fragrant flowers as A /
tribute to the valor with which they
fought and as a token that our country
Is truly reunited and is theirs as well as
ours.
1.-THE established custom of a patriotic
sermon and religious services on the Sun
day preceding Memorial Day should not
be neglected. Pastors of churches have
always cheeIfully responded to the wishes
OF the Grand Army in this respect and !
without doubt will do so this year at the
request of the proper committees.
1ll-AdVancing years, the hardShiDs en-
dured and wounds received in the service
have rendered many of our comrades un-
able to take the active part they once |
gladly took in these exercices The sad
duties of this day must soon be taken up
and performed by patriotic citizens. and il
is appropriate that they should now
actively assist the old soldiers in honoring
the nations patriotic dead.
1N-AU old soldiers, public officials,
patriotic citizens and societies. the United
States troops at Fort Douglas, the Ma
tional Guard of Utah the returned
soldiers from the late war with Spain.
and the teachers and children of the pub
&c schools. each and all, are cordially in
vited to participate and assist the Grand
Army in the proper observance of the day.
VT is noted with infinite regret that
here has been in the past a tendency to
make this national funeral day day for
excursions. festivals and games. 1t is be-
ieved that this springs from thoughtless-
less and not from any desire to desecrate
day which, to every old soldier and to
very patriotic man and woman, is {
;ad and holy one.
1t is sincerely hoped that the present
'ear viii witness a marked change and !
in this respect. The people |
urelN can devote one day in the year in (
IGNORING the heroic dead the men who !
isked their lives for their country.
NI-Post chaplainS viii not fail to
promptly make reports of the exercises
# the day to the assistant adiutant gen '
raj as required by the rules and regu- {
atoms. BY order of
MAURICE NJ. KAIGHN. i
Department Commander ]
T. NJ BISHOP
Assistant Adiutant General