The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-05-08
Unveiled q aonument.

|
Company Fl, of the Third New Jersey
Volunteers, arrived at the railroad station
81 at II o'clock. There were also some in
- vited guests and ali took hacks and pro-
ceeded to the Mount Holly cemetery.
Il The grave had been covered with the
u stars and stripes and the monument was
h also yelled with flag.
l. John w. Bodine was master of cere-
monies. Prayer was offered by Rev.
{ James Stoddard, rector of St. Andrews
J. church, after which the flag was lifted
O from the monument by William D. Bryan,
e of Brooklyn son of the deceased soldier
The flag was so arranged that it fioated
!. over the grave during the ceremonies.
Captain Charles Evan Merritt then de-
r livered an address This company was
assembled to unveil monument over the
remains of one who served his country
well. That he did this was attested by
those who were with him in the war.
The fortunes of war took the speaker to
the front from another state but by a
coincidence, the company he served in
was Company H., hence he felt more
than a passing interest in the survivors
now present. Although this monument
was unveiled to Major Bryan individually,
yet it was an act of honor and love to all
who wore the blue. Major Bryan was
but one of the thousands who served their |
country, but he was one who deserved |
all honor and praise. The thought pre- |
sented itself how many men there are who |
are always willing to spring to their |
country's aid. many of whom sacrifice |
their lives for the flag they love. Many
who served in the same war with Major
Bryan today fill nameless and unknown
graves, yet the United States has tried to
get them together where their remains
may not be neglected. but the fact that
many of them cannot be located does not
for one instant allow their memory or the
glorious work done by them to fade from
sight. The members of Company Fl, as
they stand here over the plot that contains
the remains of their honored commander
doubtless recall the very many instances
of his kindness to them, they remember
how faithfully he served them, cheering
them up in many dark hour, and as their
eyes grow dim with tears at the thought
that he is no more, the speaker would also
drop tear on the grave of one who was
loyal soldier and faithful friend. j
Rev. Joseph H. James, who was the Is
chaplain of the Third regiment, was in K
troduced. Mr.. James was formerly a L
resident of Mount Holly, and he said the /
memories that crowded upon him at the |
moment were many. He recalled his boy {
hood days. spent within sight of the GENE t
| terry, and he remembered the days spent /
in company with the soldiers on the field, ]
where his mission was to cheer and COM |
fort. And as he looked at the flag float
ing over the grave he thought how we /
should honor the memory of all the men
who stood for that flag. God does not
forget, nor do the living forget the men
whose graves are distant and beyond the
touch of loving hands. When Sumpter {
was fired upon the postmaster of Mount
Holly recruited company to go forward I
to aid his nation. There were strong ties
of life, with good position at his COM
mand, with three motherless children to Z
protect, but the call to arms was strong 2
and he obeyed He deserved to be hon
ored. A captain of a company bears pc
culiar relations to his men, and by harsh
or kind treatment can mold the natures of
those under him. Major Bryan was sym i
pathetic and kind. He was ever ready to
listen to his men, his heart throb
bling with sympathy for them. Those
who are here today will ever remember :
the Captain and Major more as brother
and a friend than as an officer. They
have erected monument to his memory L
which is but an outward emblem of the )
love that dwells within their hearts.
Captain Walter A. Barrows was the next II
speaker To the old soldiers, the surviv- &
ors of Company II, he would direct his
remarks particularly, but those who heard 4
them might be able to draw some lessons {
from them. The mystic chords of mem
DRY that strikes to every soldiers heart O
have created a comradeship that has level f
ed up and down all rank. All are one in 8
comradeship which lasts beyond the filling
of the grave. This is because it is real, s
and the fact that we are living beneath t
its influence is what brings us here to day q
to honor comrade who has answered the
last roll call Often had those present ),
been called upon to close the eyes of some 7
dear friend to follow him to the grave 1;
and then away to the duties of life, as if
none had fallen. This was the history of
all periods. None are so important but :
the world will go right on when they are
gone, but owing to that mystic chord, that :.
sacred comradeship, the dead may drop
out of sight, but not out of the hearts of
those who are left behind. Major Bryan
was loved more firmly, more lastlingly, by ',
what he did in the war than any man can !,
be by his work in civil life 1t is not
needless, nor useless, nor idleness, that .
his old comrades today honor his memory
by this tribute of their love and esteem
Major Bryan, as captain, filled an import
ant position. The spirit, the morale of
the army, is dependent upon Captain and
Bryan did not stain the honor entrusted to
his keeping in the army or out of it.
The lesson to be derived is that the thing
which lasts and remains when one is gone t
is not the wealth that is left, but the SER S
vices one does for himself and his coun- q
try In the hearts of the comrades who 6
today survive their old commander, he v
lives as one who faithfully served them as
friend, officer and companion. T
Rev. Martin Aigner, rector of Trinity s
church, pronounced the benediction and !
the services were ended. ,
The survivors and friends then went to t
the home of James Wiseman, a member of ,
the company, where fine lunch had been {
prepared. After lunch the guests were I
taken through the shoe factory of Rod {
man W, Bowker and were much interest !
ed in the work there done. A short bust ,
ness meeting was afterwards held in the ]
room of Post 26. Il
The monument is brown granite and (
was prepared by George G. Heisler. On
it is the corps mark of the First brigade
suitably inscribed The lettering on the
face of the monument gives the name and