The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-31

Memorial day, the day when the
American people pause to pay reverent
homage to the heroic and valorous dead,
was solemnIy andimpressively observed
in Worcester yesterday.
In the few years since the Grand
Army of the Republic set apart day
for a general remembrance of its dead,
at the suggestion of Gen. John A. Lo-
gan, has its meaning and significance
appealed to the people as it did yester-
day.
In honoring the dead who fought for
the preservation of the Union and the
suppression of slavery, the minds of the
people were drawn to the more recent
war in which the American soldier
fought and died for as holy and noble
a cause, the suppression of tyranny and
elevation Of humanity.
Many families felt the meaning Of
the day a double fold, and the graves
of father and son, the fallen in the two
wars, were covered with floral tributes
by sorrowing relatives and friends. All
nature was akin and each individual
felt sympathy for his neighbor as the
day recalled those who have gone be-
fore.
The morning broke cloudy and threat
ening, as if nature, too, felt the sorrow
fulness of the occasion, but before the
days exercises were begun, the sun
broke forth in all its glory to ada its
lustre to the deeds of charity and re-
membrance. The veterans of the Grand
Army gave a part in the days observ-
ance to the men who wished to honor
their comrades who have answered the
Assembly" in the grand and glorious
army Of the Great Commander.
The veterans Of the Spanish-Ameri-
can war and kindred organizations of
Post 10, assembled at the posts head
quarters at o'clock, and, headed by a
platoon of police in command Of Sergt.
W. N. Drohan and Battery band,
marched to the soldiers monument
through Main and Park streets and sa-
lem square.
The right of line was held by the mi
litia companies Of the city, in COM
mand Of Maj. H. B. Fairbanks. The
three companies Of the Second regi-
ment. one company Of the Ninth regi-
ment and a detachment Of b Battery,
in command of their officers, made an
imposing escort to the Grand Army
men. Many Of the militiamen wore
the war service stripe on their arm, and
general applause marked their march
to the monument.
AS the line passed the city hall,
Mayor Dodge and Chief of Police J. NJ.
brennan headed a delegation of city
officials who marched ahead of the post
to the monument. In the party be
sides the mayor and chief Of police
were ex-Mayors F. A. Harrington, II.
A. Marsh, Aldermen Henry Brannon,
John r. Back and Sanford c. Kendall.
Councilmen f. D. Johnson, Wesley
Merritt, George c. Hunt. John f. Lund
berg, James II. Hunt, George II. Mutt,
Peter S. Gallagher, Lewis J. Terrill, ex-
Alderman e. NJ. Woodward, Harrison
K. Otis, Charles S. Barton, G. X. Rugg,
b. K. Stowell, F. K. Hunt, Keeene, n.
H, Rev. DR.. James Boyd Brady and
Rev. f. D. Penney.
The scene at and about the monu-
ment was inspiring. The decorations
of the granite shaft were modest and
effective Potted plants and vases of
cut flowers were tastefully set in the
recesses of the monument and the
bronze figures were united by cords of
evergreen. American flags we're
placed about each of the figures, and
tri-coIors floated from the crown of
the Goddess Of Liberty to the base Of
the shaft. Directly behind the space
reserved for the speakers was one Of
the prettiest pieces of decoration, a
floral flag. placed there by Benchley
Garrison Of the Regular Army and
Navy Union. About the monument
the greeusward was thickly dotted
with a reverent crowd which had come |
out to show its sympathy in the days
The parade marched to the enclosure
to the south and west of the monu- /
ment. and Commander R. 3. Edwards /
assembled the platform and introduced |
Rev. DR.. Willard Scott Of Piedmont
church. Rev. DR.. Scott offered al