Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-31
,68'S DECORATION DAY.
It Was the First One Held In Augusta
Hon. J. W. Bradbury the Orator Before The
o. @. Howard Post.

How many years have the graves of
the soldiers been decorated was
asked Of an old veteran. Tuesday.
IF am not mistaken this is the SIND
time that on the 30rh of May we have
decorated the graves" answered the
soldier Of 81.
But during all that time we have
not done il as a Post of the G. A. r.,
he continued. for there We're four
years when there was no Post in Au-
Rnsta You see we We're originally the
o. O. Howard Post No. 20, and on the
FIRST wear that the Decoration day was
brought about in 1868. we as Post
decorated the graves. That year Cen
pral John A. Logan. who was the COM
mander-in-c chief of the Grand Army Of
the Republic. visited Augusta and ad-
dressed us. 1t was during the political
campaign, and it was thought Logan
was working the order for political
cause. This caused dissention among
the members and the result was that
before the close of 1868 we had given
IN our charter and O. Q. Howard Post
No. 90 was no more. Then there fol-
lowed three Decoration days when we
decorated the graves as an independent
uams Post was formed. and since that
time we have never missed on a 3oth OF
Nav. the decorating of our fallen COM
rades' graves
The issue of the Weekly Kennebec
Journal of May y, 1868. gives an ac-
count Of the proposed observance OF
Memorial day. 1t states that upon the
proclamation Of General John A.
Logan. commander of the Grand Army
Of the Republic an organization COM
posed of the soldiers, sailors and ma
rines of the Civil War. o. o. Howard
Post had decided to observe the day by
appropriate ceremonies. The Journa!
was decidedly in favor of such move.
and said it hoped the schools might be
closed that the children might observe
the respect TO the dead. 1t also ear
nestly asked all to assist in the eX-
ercises of the day.
There will be no attempt at display
ia the ceremony" said the Journal.
but it will be performed in quiet
and simple manner, establishing GUS
tom that will annually be repeated as
long as we have name and a place
among the nations of the earth"
The account Of the decoration is
given in the succeeding issue of the
paper 1t is said that under the com
mand of Colonel Joseph Noble. the
post commander. a large number of the
members of the post marched TO Forest
Grove cemetery, where in the pouring
rain the exercises We're held. The
graves were all decorated by the hand
some bouquets furnished by the Au-
gusta ladies. Prayer was offered by
the post chaplain, Rev. j. A. Narney
The national hymn, My Country lis
of Thee" was sung, after which Com
mander Noble read General Logan's
proclamation.
The Military Asylum band to the
Togus Asylum furnished music. This
band. it was stated, was composed OF
disabled veterans of the war. led by
A. F. Thompson.
The memorial address was delivered
by Hon. ]. w. Bradbury, then a man
of over 60 years of age. This is one Of
the remarkable parts of the Memorial
day, as the venerable statesman is to-
day able to deliver an address that
would he almost as eloquent and
touching as in the years gone by.
Following Mr.. Bradbury's address
was a short one by Rev. Mr.. Moor. and
prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. King.
This composed the entire service at
the first Memorial day in Augusta.
when there were but 20 Of the Augusta
soldiers sleeping in the cemeteries OF
the city, though there wre 30 others
who had died in the hospital that was
here at the time of the war.
In regard to the number who used to
attend the observances Of the day. some
Of the veterans say there were not 50
many Of the entire force as now.
There were so many of the returned
soldiers at that time that the number
seemed greater than now, but in pro-
portion to the number living, they now
turn out better. Seth Williams Post is
the third largest in the State of Maine,
today.