The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-31
HONOR SOLDIER DEAD
Memorial Day FittingIy OBJ
served in This City.
DECORATED THE GRAVES
Imposing Services at Audi
torium--Fine Parade.

Preparations were made to make the
event a memorable one, and the event
has not passed without success. The post
Office department and the banks remained
closed all day, and in the afternoon,
when the regular program was rendered,
the merchants generally observed the
sacredness Of the day and closed their
places of business.
Not for years has Decoration Day been
so fittingly observed, and on all sides
everybody breathed the air Of patriotism.
Everybody had that true American spirit
which has been so much in evidence dur
ing the last four decades, and the DEM
onstration was wonderfully inspiring The
procession was participated in By old vet
Grams, who faced shot and shell in de-
tending the honor Of a glorious nation
Indeed, did the gray hairs, the drawn
faces and the bent forms Of some show
plainly that they had gone through the
horrors Of one Of the hercest wars that
was ever waged; yet, after all, these
gray-haired veterans are proud Of the
fact that they aided in the maintenance
Of a government that knows no defeat,
a government that stands supreme
among nations, a government whose
motto for liberty and freedom is known
throughout the universe; a government
"of the people, for the people and by the
people" and a government that has been
free from oppression and misrule
The weather was fine and the people
showed their true American colors by
turning out and helping to make the day
a success. The various soldiers organi-
cations, the Women's Relief Corps, and
others, were at the head Of the ceIebra-
ton, and their efforts to have a patriotic
observance Of the national holiday were
not in vain.
In the morning at the cemetery the
graves Of the silent heroic dead were
strewn with flowers by little girls who
were selected for this purpose. The vol
leys were fired by squad from Company
A Second Regiment, Kansas National
Guards, over the graves of the fallen
dead. This. their eternal Camping
ground, was the scene OF fitting services
A monument erected to the memory Of
the soldier dead by the Ladies Of the c.
A R, was appropriately dedicated. The
ceremony also included the dedication of
pavilion in Maple Grove cemetery
This structure was erected by the Wom-
ans Relief Corps. The two cemeteries
are dotted with tombstones which mark
the graves of soldiers who have answer
ed their last bugle call; they have gone
TO forever rest beneath the elms of the
silent camping ground. The nation has
claimed the brave and the sound of the
-slf
be heard no more.
In the afternoon the parade was to
form an important part in the ceIebra-
ton. Grant Myers was grand marshal
of the day and he formed his division on
Main and First streets. The procession
was headed by squad of the Metro
politan police force, the grand marshal
and aides and Sandford's Commercial
band.
Next following came Battery A, with
two pieces of light artillery This bat
terry, apparently in readiness for hostili-
ties. presented a war-llke appearance.
The division containing Garfield Post
G. A. R., Eggleston Post, G. A. r.. the
Union Veterans Union, woman's Relief
Corps, Ladies of the c. a. r, Woman's
L. V. l., Ladies Aid society and the
Sons of Veterans, consisting Of big por-
ton Of the procession. several hundred
ladies and gentlemen having participated
In it on foot.
The county officers were in the column,
and the city was represented by Mayor
Ross. Street Commissioner Allen and
Councilmen Luling and Dewey.
One of the features Of the parade was
the turnout of the complete fire depart
ment This division was led by Chief
Walden, followed by the fremen with the
wagons. chemical engine. hook ard lad
der and the large engine
Tho parade was one Of the most i'm
posing ever Witnessed in Wichita on
Decora ton day The PROCESSION went
south on Main street to Douglas avenue.
east on Douglas 10 St Francis avenue.
north on s.. Francis to the Auditorium
where the profession halted tor the
memorial exercises.
The attendance was vast. and before
the exercises began the large Auditorium
was filed to Overlooking Every avail
able seat in the balcony was also occu-
pied
After a selection by the band the cur
tain went up on a most creGitable and
Imposing scene. It was OF the American
hSg-Old Glory-animated by the bright
and pretty faces of lco schaolgir,s who
formed a chorus. directed by Miss Jessie
Clark The group Of children formed the
flag. which contained the original thir-
teen stars and thirteen strires. Thu little
ones were grouped IN thirteen alternate
rows Of red ard white while I'm the cor
ner were the thirteen stars in white. with
the customary blue background The
group was staged back and Up and n ami
formity in size made possible the ami
mated American flag Boys repres ented
the stars The idea was conceived by
MIR J - Conklin who had charge OF
the platform c W Biting and Miss
Jessie Clark It was unique and original
and something that was never before
ATTEMPTED in this city. The audience
fairly went wild with enthusiasm at the
magni6cence e the design. Il was in
deed an impressive sight Those who
took part in II We're as follows:
, Jessie BalderStcn. Nvalma Grafton,
Mahel Hamilton. Pauline Grafton
Berthe Davis, Fr,u7s PARROT.
Army Tucker. Marie Pearce.
Ruth Imboden Florence Searle.
Minnie King. Ers Re.yfer
Grace McGrlh. Emma Gardner.
Clara Richmond. ,ra shank
Grace Stevens. Ada 0u.~
May Spans.er Ralph Garton.
Ada Specie. JoshuS Dletrick.
Bessse Hcliar. Franz Nal.e-nsver
lAy~e, fsv-rz 81 -