Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-06-01
OUR NATIONS DEAD.
Everyone Joined in Doing Honor ia
the Dead Heroes of our Country.


Decoration day with all its hallowed
memories has again come and gone, and
in its passing leaves with us the gratiti-
cation of knowing that we, each and all
of US, have done our duty to those brave
men who fought to preserve the Union
that we might enjoy the benefits of a
free country.
On Sunday the Memorial services in
the NJ. E, church were largely attended
and the sermon pre- ached by Rev. Sin
cleir was filled with many beautiful
thoughts
Wednesday, May 30, the day set aside
as Decoration day, dawned with a
threatening sky, but later the clouds
cleared away and contrary to the usual
custom no rain fell during the day. At
two o. clock the opera house was filled to
overfowing and the members of the @.
A. r. and w. r. O., escorted by surviv-
ors of the Spanish American war and
the Breckenridge band, marched in
and took their seats. After music by
the band, the exercises began with invo-
cation by Rev. w. X. Spencer, followed
by the singing of "Sleep Comrades,
Sleep" by the high school pupils. Read
ing of General Orders by Adjutant
Chadwick, followed by the singing of
Sword of Liberty" by the college male
quartet, preceded the introducing of
Prest A. +. Bruske, the orator of the
day, by w. A. Bahlke. In introducing
the speaker Mr.. Bahlke made some very
appropriate remarks with reference 70
the many reasons why the day should be
fittingly observed by every loyal Ameri-
can.
DR.. Bruske began his address in that
easy, masterful manner of his and grad
ually instilled into the minds of every
one present spirit of patriotism, in
spired by his eloquence. In part the
DR.. said 1t is difficult TO apprehend
the beauties of the day. On the shores
Of the Atlantic, at the Golden Gate on
the shores of the Pacific, in every ham
let on the shores of the Mississippi, in
fact all over this glorious country of
ours, people are uniting III prayer as we
have here today, and for the same pur
pose. Some might ask is it wise to re
new animosities of long ago in this man
ner. There are no animoslties today
nor were there 81 years ago. That was
war waged for principle alone Where
did the inspiration for the day first
come from? The womanhood of z
southern state had an inspiration and
filling their hands with flowers they
went to the scenes Of one of those bloody
southern battlefields and there strewed
them upon the graves of the dead, max
| ing no distinction between the blue or
the grey. They were all brothers. If
the venerable men before you today,
when they march to the cemetery, should
find the grave of one who fought for Sc
cession, would they pass it by: No, not
one. They would each have flower TO
offer upon that mound. Only a few
more years will these men be able to COM
memorate this day. II will be left for our
children and our children's children.
Will they doit? We hope so.
Atthe close of the address the high
school pupils very pleasingly sang
Memorial Day." after which Com
mander Holmes spoke few words,
thanking all who were assisting in the
observance of the day.
The parade formed on the corner of
State and Superior-sts. in the following
order and marched to the cemetery: Es.
cort Spanish. American soldiers, band,
G. A. r., firemen, pupils of the high
school, w. X. o. ladies in rigs, followed
by citizens in carriages and on foot. AT
the cemetery the exercises consisted of
decoration of the soldiers graves with
flowers, music by the band and pupils of
the high school, and recitations by Harry
Carter and Miss Grace Winn, and the
ritualistic exercises of the Grand Army
of the Republic, after which all
a