The record-union., 1899-05-31
OUR cTTYS TRIBUTE
To the Men Who Bravely Fought
for the Union.

The veterans OF three wars were Oul
in force yesterday to honor their de-
parted comrades by strewing their last
resting places with beautiful flowers
The Grand Army veterans and the
scattering survivors of the Mexican war
were reinforced by those who offered
their services for the country in the late
unpleasantness with Spain.
And yesterday the veterans of the
Grand Army of the Republic were SOL
diers again. They for the time forgot
that the frosts of thirty-four winters
had silvered their heads and stiffened
their joints since that day in April,
1865, when the Confederacy laid down
its arms Just little older than they
We're a year ago; just few more sill
yer threads in their hair; just the same
reverence for the old flag, and just as
earnest in paying tribute to those who
with them fought the Nations battles,
and who afterward, in the words of the
greatest of the Confederate chieftalns,
crossed the river and rested in the
green shade" They realized that in
time they too will "cross the river" but
they also realized that a united and
generous people will, for the debt they
owe, keep their memory green, and that
in years to come other hands, just as
gentle, will strew the flowers, and other
voices will tell of the deeds done in
battle that the Nation might live.
But Memorial Day has grown too
large to be confined to the ranks of the
blue or the gray 1t is the property Of
the whole people, and yesterday Sacra-
mentos people shared it. Scarcely a
grave in the entire cemetery, or in
either cemetery, regardless of whether
the remains of a soldier or civilian rested
there, was strewn with blossoms. None
so lowly but what some friend remem-
bered, or if friends were absent, some
stranger did the kind act. 1t was veri-
table festival of the dead-a sad, though
in one sense a joyous festival, and one
which reused in human breasts memo
ries of those who years ago bloomed,
faded and died as did the flowers placed
above them.
Thousands of Sacramento's citizens
visited the city of the dead. From early
morn until the sun dipped behind the
crest of the western hills did the pilgri-
mage continue, but when graves sacred
to private hearts had received a flower,
and, perchance, a tear, the people
down into the jaws of death beneath
the folds of the starry banner and to
honor the memory of those of their
comrades who had laid down the bur
den and passed to the long sleep-the
sleep so dreamless that even the mem
ory of the strife Of war is forgotten
THE PARADE.
AS in the days when the memory of
the great civil strife was fresh and the
wounds of the sections We're not yet
healed, the veterans lined up to march
TO the plat they call their own in the
City Cemetery. While a few limbs were
less supple, and a few heads were
grayer, every eye shone bright as in the
war days of long ago. The local SOL
diery, and those volunteers who served
the Government during the war with
Spain were also in the ranks, while
three bands made music that aroused
old memories in the hearts of the vet
erans
1t was nearly o'clock when all was
in readiness and the parade which
formed on Eighth street, 1 and, J, start
ed. Chief of Police Dwyer and a squad
Of police We're in the lead, being direct
ly followed by the Grand Marshall L. S.
Geitner, and his aids, Q. P. Dodge and
]. s. Jones. Then came the Second
Infantry band under the leadership Of
c. A. Neaae, and following the band the
boys of Company G, Captain Zittinger
commanding, swung into line, fully
equipped in light marching order, and
just behind Company G marched the
disbanded volunteers at the head Of
whom marched Captains Cooke and
Hughes and Lieutenants Sprague and
McMartin and other officers. The SOL
dier boys were received with salyos OF
applause all along the line of march
Following the soldiers were carriage
IN which were seated Mayor Land
members of the Board of City Trustees
and other officials
The second division was marshaled bv
A Hurd, assisted by H. Taubner
Goethe, and was led by the Native sons
band, which is one of the best in tha
city, and which played excellent and
appropriate music. Then came fhe Two
local parlors Of the Native Sons of the
Iolden west, Sacramento and Sunset
ana 1oAoWlng came carriages in which
We're seated the members of the Toard
or Supervisors and other county of1i-
GERS. oiii-
The third division was marsba1aa l..
D. j. simmons. assisted by 7 ( NJ.
lure ana leading it came the Sacrs-
me1lto Fife and Drum Corps. Next in
Ane marched the veterans of Sumnar
Pest commanded by Post Commando
jerks, and Warren Post followed undar