Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-05-19
FOR MEMORIAL DAY.
Department Commander Farr of the
Grand Army Issues !, General Or
der to the Various Posts.

Grand Army issues IL General Of-
der to the Various Posts.
Col. Farr commander of the South
Dakota Department of the q. y. r.,
has issued the following general order
to the posts of the state:
Headquarters Department of South
Dakota, Grand Army of the Republic,
Pierre, S. d., April 30. 1so9.-General
Orders No. 4: All posts of this depart
ment will unite in the solemn observ-
ance of Memorial Day, May 30, 1899.
For nearly third of "a century this
beautiful custom has prevailed, until
Memorial Day is now regared as our
most important patriotic holiday, and
its true meaning has impressed itself
upon the hearts of all the people.
Let no soldiers or sailors grave be
overlooked, and as we scatter memor-
ial flowers uT ON the graves OF our COM
rades, let us renew in our hearts, our
solemn pledges of Fraternity, Charity
and Loyalty.
There will be an intensity of sacred
ness added to the memorial ceremonies
of this year. "The fragrance of flowers
strewn over the graves of those who
gave their blood to eternally cement
the union, will be waited to the heroes
of the present, who have made, and are
still making, equal sacrifice that what
their fathers fought to secure to our
selves may fall as benediction upon
others less favored"
An eloquent and devoted comrado
has said, "Blessed are the dead, whose
memory is perpetuated by the flower
services of grateful people, and how
truly immortal are those who give
their lives for liberty. To have lived
long, purposelcss, neutral years is
nothing-to have lived IL few glorious
hou,s, to have bravely faced the inf
mite. to have calmly met the Master in
humanity's cause is sublime"
The events of the closing year have
surely served to emblazon the glory OF
the spirit of American patriotism. The
present conflict in it's very aspect,
has been, and is, one of sacrifice, and
not of conquest. The blood of our
brave and dashing Harting, Afford,
Mitchell, Lien, Adams, Morrison, and
their valiant comrades of the rank and
file. shall rouse the ebbing flood of
memory, and link the sacrifices, and
the triumphs, of the men of 6l-65 to
the hearts of the now rising genera
ton, and shall commit our children's
children to the sacred cause of human
liberty and progress, rand thus the
flowers which strew the graves of rev.
cred comrades shall have new mean
ing, and speak new language to our
fellow countrymen. They shall hail
them on to increased devotion to the
emancipation of human thought and
action, and thus shall consummate the
meaning and purpose of Memorial
Day.
Let invitations be extended to the
Woman's Relief Corps, Sons of Veter-
ans, public schools, civic societies, and
all patriotic citizens to join in proper
observance of this day of tender mem
cries, Let us discountenance every at
tempt to reduce it to the level of an
ordinary holiday.
It is recommended that each Post
attend divine service in body on the
Sabbath preceding May 30, accompan.
led by the auxiliary orders.
The holding of patriotic exercises in
the public schools on Friday proceed
ing Memorial Day should be generally
observed and Post commanders will
cooperate with the teachers, and
school officials in the performance oi
this duty.
Post chaplains will make report Of
Memorial Day Immediately after the
exercises are concluded and forward
by next mail to Col. G. w. Demarest
Department Chaplain, Watertown
South Dakota. Blanks and addressed
envelopes are enclosed with this order
By command of
Edward p. Farr,
Department Commander.
Official: Jas. s. Sebree, Assistant
Adjutant General.
Quarterly Meeting.
The third quarterly meeting Of thi