Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-01
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE.
Memorial Day Brings Together Very Large
Crowd in COmmemoration Service.

mellOIldl DdY DIlIlSo iUSctHtl f6If Ldt Sc
Crowd in Commem0ration Service.
Fresh proofs of the fact that the
spirit of those who volunteered in the
civil war still animates the younger
generation and that the numberlesS
martyrs who perished in '61-'65 still
live in cherished memory Of this COM
munity were given Tuesday, when one
Of the largest Decoration day gather
ingS that has ever been known here
participated in the events Of proper
conservation.
AS friend Reed says in the Appleton
Post, sit is a little remarkable that
ours should be the only country in the
world which has such a day as this,
set apart in honor Of the soldiers who
have fought their cOuntry's battles.
The omission Of such day from the
national life Of other countries is not
that they have no heroes to honor nor
patriots to cherish. For no nation is
SO poor but that it has had men to sac
rifice their all in the love Of their cOun-
try; we have no monopoly in patriotism.
But to us the obligation Of such
commemoratiOn is imperative because
our heroes have not waited until they
were forced into the service Of their
COuIbly DtU nave SldtIy lCSDOudCu W
the call to arms. We cherish the day
not because we are a military people
who love war for wars sake but be
cause we prize the worth Of the man
hood of those who entered the armies
Of the republic as volunteers, because
they were men in whom we discern all
that is noblest in the virtues which
have made this the strongest nation
in the world"
Observance of this greatest of all
American holidays began in the twin
cities promptly at 10 o'clock a, m.
when the procession formed along
Main street from city hall to the
bridge. Geo. w. Baker, mounted,
acted as marshal Of the day; NJ. S.
Pratt, commander of the local G. A. II.
was in charge of the old veterans,
there being II in the line of march:
the Catholic FOreSters and Catholic
Knights were out fifty strong, with
ChaS Gouger and n. Reiland in com
mand of EOreSterS and David LutZ Jr.
in charge of the Knights: A. W.
Gitchell, venerable council of the
Modern WOodmen was at the head of
his camp, represented by twenty-four
Woodmen; A. B. GrignOn Of the @.
A. r., led the school children. Many
Of our business houses were closed
and the day was perfect for such an
occasion. the bright sunshine lending
its approving warmth and radiance to
the maze of flowers and flags. Samuel
Parker and William HadIey were in
their accustomed place as tiferS;
Louis PyruSe, of the Fourth WiScOn-
sin regiment band, was trumpeter:
Mr.. Inskip and Claud Ratelle handled
the drums. Line Of march to the
cemeteries was in the order following:
Officer of Day (mOunted.)
FifeS and Drums,
Trumpeter,
Grand Army Post No %,
Flower Girls,
Catholic FOreSterS
Catholic Knights,
School Children,
Modern WOodmen of America,
Carriages and Citizens.
Fully two Thousand people gathered
at the cemeteries, where the usual
ritual services were conducted by the
Grand Army Post over the grave of
their departed cOmrade, Clarence War
ren. Visitors were busy in every part
of the white city and
Once more under skies of May,
When lilac blossoms, and when violet blows,
On these grassy graves were weaved a spray
OF Northern lily and Southern rose.
Then the columns marched back to
town, while the mounds of the soldier
dead continued to receive hOnOred
attention during all the day.
EXERCISES AT OPERA HOUSE
Before o'clock in the afternoon
every seat at Grand Opera House was
taken, the audience being crowded to
the doorway and in the galleries. The
stage was simply decorated in patri-
otic arrangement, and was occupied
by Commander Pratt, master of cere-
monies, Il. J. Cooper, acting chaplain,
w. A. KeyeS, acting officer of day,
together with others mentioned here
with as appearing on the program.
Attorney Geo. L. Williams had ac-
cepted an invitation to be the speaker
on this occasion, but the demands for
his presence, on legal issues in Stevens
Point, made it impossible for him to
appear Rev. +. A. NimitS was called
upon to fill this place at late hour
and he kindly came to the 'front.' de-
liyering a very fine impromptu ad
dress. eloquent in its references TO the
veterans of '6l and full of splendid
thought. The audience could not
have expected more had he been given
weeks instead of minutes for prepara-
tion, and they listened with deepest
interest, thoroughly impressed at the
finish Readings by Mesdames B. r.
Goggins and 0. T. Hougen were
pleasant numbers of the memorial
program as were also the vocal selec-
tionS by choir consisting of Hrs. f.
j. Cameron, Mrs. w. E. Little, Miss
Grace Pratt MessrS. Fred Stamm and
Bernhardt Toepel. Ellis L. Kroner
presided at the piano. The program
at Opera House closed demonstrations
of an interesting and impressive
Memorial day, beautiful because of it's
simple proceedings and rich in its
lessons of war and patriotism.