Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-06-02
Decoration Day.

With fragrant flowers, eulogies, music
and parade. the heroes OF both sides
who fell in def noe Of their flag were fit
tingly honored w dnes Jay. Most of the
public buildings we're closed during the
day and business generally. except in the
stores, was suspended. The morning
was very quiet, bur IN the afternoon thou
sands turned out 10 witness and to par
ticpate in the strewing Of flowers upon
the graves OF the dead but not forgotten
heroes.
The decoration services were conducted
under the direction OF the G.. A. r.
With gradually thinning ranks the veter-
ans of both sides who fought face to face
in the civil war turned out and together
paid tribute 10 their dead comrades. In
both cemeteries waving flags and bright
flowers marked the tombs of the boys
who wore The blue and OF the boys who
wore the gray. Memorial day is steadily
becoming more OF general holiday es-
pecially since the veterans Of the North
and OF the South have united IN strewing
flowers upon their comrades graves.
The parade formed n public squareand
on Queen street. AT two O'Clock the or
der was given to march and the following
organizations fell into line:
City Band
Company +.
Knights OF Pytnias.
IT, Order United american Mechanics.
Fire Department
Confederate Veterans
Grand Amy of the Republic.
Carriages
Numerous carriages aid many people
brought up the rear. The parade vent
out Queen stree. 10 South, where open
ranks were formed and the G.. n. X. vet
Grams took The lead iato Nofbourn ceme-
terry. The organizations then dispersed
and sFre1ed flowers upon the graves of
their dead comrades.
After The flower strewiny the parade
was reformed. They then marched back
Queen 10 Burke 10 Green Hill cemetery.
Here thousands Of people had gathered
and the city Of the dead was one great
moving mass OF humanity. After the
graves nad been strewn with flowers the
organizations assembled for exercises. In
regard to these a very regretinl mistake
had been made. The commander Of the
g. A. H. mad appointed committee to
have a stand erected in the cemetery for
speaking. This the committee had over
looked and when the time for the speak
ing arrived il was found that there was no
stand for the speakers. This part Of the
exercises therefore suffered greatly. Rev,
w. w. Barnes offered prayer, after which
Hon. Geo. f. Evans made short adj
dress. Being in the midst of the crowd
the voice OF the speaker could not be
heard any distance and the addresses were
cut sho I. Mr.. Gerhardt, who had pre-
pared an appropriate address, did not
speak at all. Commander Strausner OF
the G. A. r. was very much worried
about the failure Of the committee to pro-
vide the stand and although he regretted
it very much, the mistake could not be
remedled at that late hour
After the short address by Mr.. Evans
the band concluded the exercises of the
evening. During the flower strewing the
military company fired volleys over the
graves and executed drill.
AT ANTIETAM.
Thousands of people were on the An
tietam Battlefield Wedne sday to witness
the annual decora ion cerenon es and the
dedication OF the Maryland monument 10
the blue and the gray. Among the dis
tinguished statesmen present were Presi-
dent Mckinley and his cabinet, Gen JOS
eph r Hawley, Senator ]. w. Daniel,
Gen. JOIN X. Brook, Gen. Jos. Wheeler,
Hon. Go. b. Mcclellan, Col. I. w. Fair
fax, Admiral Melville, Gen. f. A. German
Gen. A. w. Greedy, Gen. II. V. Boynton,
Surgeon-Gensral Stemburg, Senators,
Lodge, Hoar, Fairbanks and Clark, Of
Montana. and number Of Congressman.
Al.o Gov. Smith. OF Maryland and a
number Of State officers. several compa-
MES OF so diers and amilitary band were
present and took part in the ceremonies.
after the dedication OF the monument.
rhe President and party were driven over
the battleneld. after which they returned
70 WashnSt' GA a spc0ia. tgain over re
Norfolk 81 Yves ern.