Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-30
THOMAS POST IN CHARGE
EXERCISES HELD AT GLENWOOD
AND NEIGHBORING CEMETERIES.

George H. Thomas Post had charge of the
decorations of the graves of soldiers at
Glenwood. Prospect Hill, St. Marys and
Mount Olivet. Never was there such an
elaborate or more handsome collection of
flowers placed on the graves of the GEM
eteries in the northern part of the city were
strewn over them today. The floral offer
ings came from the teachers and children of
the public schools in the northeastern part
of the city, and they provided great stacks
of blooms of both wild and cultivated va
rieties.
The exercises were in the charge of a
committee of which Post Commander w.
w. Deloe was chairman. The first feature
of the day was the decoration of the graves
in Mount Olivet cemetery. Members of the
G. A. r. assembled at the post hall, corner
of Sth and / streets. at 1:3O o'clock, and
proceeded to Mount Olivet cemetery. The
busler sounded assembly as the party en-
tered the grounds, and boys and girls.
grandchildren of the comrades. under the
charge of members of the post decorated
the graves. When this work of love had
been concluded taps were sounded.
The chief exercise of the post was held
later in the chapel of Glenwood cemetery.
The members of the post and their friends
again assembled at the post hall, where
carriages and herdicS were in waiting to
ST. Mary's cemeteries. A drum and fife
corps and a corps of boys and girls to dec
crate the graves also met at the hall. All
grandchildren of comrades, they wore the
colorS of the Union each carrying a flag.
The carriage of Post Commander Deloe
headed the procession to Glenwood, a large
assemblage having preceded them there to
witness the ceremonies.
Services at the Chapel.
The little chapel was crowded when the
bugler sounded assembly" after which
Adjt. Samuel Beght read the memorial or
ders. Chaplain Honn offered prayer, after
which Mr.. Thomas l.. Jones rendered a
vocal selection. Post Commander Deloe eX-
pressed the especial gratitude of the post
to the teachers and children who had pre-
scented flowers for the decoration of graves,
saying that never before had there been
such generous donation for that purpose
Memorial ceremonies by the officers of
George H. Thomas Post were then impress
sivey conducted. The rendering of martial
music by the drum and fife corps and Sc
lection by the Philharmonic Quartet pre-
coded the reading of Lincon's Gettysburg
address by Comrade ]. B. DOwd. Miss
Bertha Frances Wolfe recited Might on
Shiloh" The children's choir rendered a
song commemorative of the deeds of valor
of the men who wore the blue.
The orator of the day was Representative
Thomas II. Tongue of Oregon. He spoke
of the constantly increasing interest that
attends the annual decoration of the graves
of Union soldiers. This increasing interest
attested the fact that the deeds of the men
who fought for the Union were not in vain.
Though not n comrade, he had no less high
appreciation of the value of their great
work in maintaining a united country.
They had demonstrated that manhood had
not refrigerated in this century. But to
the women of the country, as much as to
the soldier on the field, was due the graft
tude of the nation. To the soldier there
were times of safety, and to him the battle
was brief and the end came quickly. But
to the woman at home there was no period
of safety. moment of rest and assurance
that the loved ones at the front were not
in danger.
The benediction was pronounced by Chap
lain Honn. after which, under the escort
of members of the Grand Army. the chill
dren went through the three cemeteries
Glenwood, Prospect Hill and ST. Marys-
literally strewing with flowers every grave