The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-05-31
WHAT G. A. R. DID.
All the Cemeteries Visit
ed By the Veterans.

The customary Decoration Day exer-
cises were held at the New York Bay
Cemetery yesterday afternoon by Van
Houten Post No. 3, G. A. r. One hum
dred Civil War veterans and seventy-five
veterans of the Spanish-American War,
augmented by 400 school cadets, partici-
pated in the exercises. Commander Wal
ter Tully was in command. Arriving at
the stand, the soldiers drew up in line
and listened to a brief opening address,
explanatory of the gathering, by Com
mander Tully. Following this was a
prayer by Chaplain John S. Knoeller.
The drum and fife each then played
Nearer My God to Theep as drge,
which was followed by a short address,
saThe Festival of the Dead" by Past
Commander Bauer. Following this the
drum and fife corps played "Shall We
Gather at the River!" Past Commander
T. e. Watson then delivered the follow
ing address,
To-day is the day set apart by the
government of grateful people to hal
low the memory of her dead defenders,
who will rest tonight beneath the loving
tributes of those who were their com
rades, and who remember and appreciate
the dark and uncertain days of our ma
tion's history. Many are here today who
recollect the heartfelt blessing of the
mother or her boy, who had donned the
blue and was going forth to fight for
the Union. Many are here who have
heard the stories of their sires and broth
ers' sufferings and death on the battle
fields, on the decks of warships or in
the more dreaded prison pens of the
South.
"Our ranks are thinning fast, and but
few more years will be added to our
lives; then let US indulge the sublime
hope that when we have folded our last
blanket and answered to our names at
the last roll call, and when the final ae-
count is called for, and the Grand Re-
cording Angel has announced the result,
that all our comrades may receive their
Just reward in hearing the approval of
their deeds here below, and the promise
of a glorious inheritance in the countless
ages of eternity"
After the benediction had been pro-
nounced by Chaplain Knoeller the COM
mand was given to form into squads,
which were instructed to visit the vari-
Gus sections of the cemetery and decor
ate the graves of their dead comrades
with flowers and flags.
The George H Thomas Grand Army
Post, numbering about thirty members,
marched from school to school in the
Hudson City section, taking ir Nos. z, 8,
10 and &c Public schools and the German
American school in Sherman avenue,
gathering flowers from each. The flowers
- - \, n
jacent cemeteries in North Hudson in
wagons. The Post paraded as far as the
Paterson plank road, where the members
boarded a trolley car and thus proceeded
to the cemeteries. At the Weehawken
cemeteries orations were delivered by ex-
Congressman Thomas McEwan, Jr., and
Ernest C. Stahl of Trenton, Past Depart
ment Commander of the G. A. R. of the
State The Arion and the Teutonia Sing
ing societies sang selections.
Henry Wilson Post No. 49, G. A. r.,
had a large delegation in the parade yes
terday afternoon. 1t assembled at the
quarters, Germania Hall, on First street,
and marched to Jersey City, Holy Name
and Old st. Peters Cemeteries, and dec
Grated the graves Of dead comrades with
flowers. donated by the pupils of Public
Schools Nos. !, 2, 3, 4, 5, and IL and
the Jersey City High School. On the
veterans return from the graves a BAN
met took place, at which addresses were
made by number of the old veterans.
The Cemetery Of the Holy Name on
West Side avenue, was crowded all day
Yesterday. From morning until night,
hundreds Of people poured In and out of
the big burying grounds carrying plants
with which to decorate the graves of the
departed relatives and friends Roughly
estimated. several thousand people must
have passed through the big gates.
The members of Zabriskie Post looked
after the graves In the West Side avenue
cemetery and in Sper's Cemetery on Ber-
gen avenue. The Union Veterans Union
assisted. The ceremonies were simple, yet
impressive
The ladies' Of Lincoln Circle, NO. = =,
A. II, rendered a reception to the men-
bers of Union Veterans Union, No. 81 and
Henry Wilson Post NO. 1s G. A. r., at