Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-30
AT SOLDIER s. HOME
BEAUTIFUL CEREMONIES, WITH
MANY VETERANS TAKING PART.

In full view of the marble structure erect
ed by a grateful nation to shelter In COM
fort during their declining years hundreds
of the men who gave not only services but
health in assisting to uphold the Union,
memorial services of most httlng ana
impressive character were conducted TO-DAY
at Soldiers Home cemetery. 1t is almost
impossible to realize that the spot selected
could have been more beautiful. the cere-
mony took place on green slope racing
the home grounds and the main buildings
thereof. Directly in front of the permanent
speakers stand, the pillars of which bear
the names of Russell. Baker, Kearney and
Wadsworth. doomed the granite tomb
wherein rests the immortal Logan. To the
left, in perfect alignment, stretching away
as far as the eye could reach, like attentive
specterS of the heroic dead, were the little
marble headstones marking the resting
places of defenders of the nation, whose
graves the nation is so diligently and rev.
erently defending from neglect. There are
no mounds above the graves In Soldiers
Home cemetery. The sward Is level. All to
indicate that the ground is sacred are the
marble shafts. Beside each today waved a
tiny flag. On each was floral tribute.
BY no chance had single one of the hun
dreds been overlooked. The glance took in
sea of patriotic symbols marking the evil
denceS or Sacrlfices to PATRIOTISM.
The Old Soldier.
Grouped in front of the rostrum. feeble
and aged in most cases, but as vigorous pa
triotically as during the stirring days of 81.
were the soldiers from the home. The liv-
ing We're doing honor to the dead. 1t was a
picture that gave rise to solemn thoughts.
1t taught a lesson. Although there were
scores and scores of citizens in the assem-
blage, none We're as attentive as the old
soldiers. They drank in every word of the
orators and others who participated In the
program, and 1t may be said the feast Of
eloquence was appetizing and luxurious.
The Exercises.
The exercises were under the direction Of
Maj. L. p. Williams. senior vice department
commander, G. A r. Associated with him
were Commander Jacob Moore. John S..
Hoover and Wilson Post, No. II. Headed
by the Soldiers Home Band, little process
sion formed in front of the main building at
$50 O'Clock and marched to the cemetery.
The assembly" was sounded by bugler.
the band played ITO Thee. o Country" and
Maj. Williams then called the assemblage to
order. The ceremonies, he said, had been
established by the G. A. r., as a means Of
expressing loyalty and devotion to the
memory of comrades of the civil war who
fell on the field of battle or have passed
away from other causes. The tribute, ac-
cording to the presiding officer, was in
tended to express admiration for the pa
Impulse tnal lea 1pTlIl llle departed
to battle for the safety Of the nation. and
their devotion to its flag at the time of its
greatest peril.
For the purpose of stimulating a love of
country, If for no other reason. Maj. Will
Jams said further, the Grand Army of the
Republic. as long as 1t shall exist. should
persist in conducting the annual Memorial
day ceremonies, ana finally hand them
down to those who are to follow the organ
ization as worthy Of their adoption and
continuance reg
Divine blessing was invoked by Rev. Jos.
L. Kelly, after which the ST. Peters choir
sang the American hymn: In an inspiring
manner Mr.. Edwin B. Hay read Lincoln's
famous Gettysburg address, which was
greeted with vigorous applause. The sur
round1ngs were such as to engender IN
usual appreciation Of the rendition that fol-
lowed of Schuberts Serenade by the Sol
diers' Home Band. Especially fitting to the
occasion was a poem, 1.-The Groves of Sol
diers' Home" that was next recited by the
author, DIR. Thomas Calver.
The Grafton.
The choir sang Cover Them Over With
Beautiful Flowers" after which the pre-
siding officer introduced Mr.. James E. Wat
son, representative in Congress from In
diana. whose Grafton was special feature
of the exercises at Soldiers Home. Among
other things, Mr.. Watson spoke of the idea
OF equal rights, and in that connection de-
clared that mankind will have no rest until
thrones are abolished The country was
worth hghting for, so the speaker said, and
ne thanked the veterans among his listen
ers TOT what you were; for what you are"
he also thanked them for the lesson of
herolsm they taught. 1t is fitting, accord