The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-26
SI0EN Sci WITH FLOWERS
UNIQUE AND HEAU1rrEyyI. lsoD.t or
PAYING TRIBUTE TO
SAILOR DEAD
TO BECOME NATIONAL CUSTOM
Members of Local G. A. II. Posts APP
prove Idea, and Would MuIke 1T
Part OF Memorial Day
Exercises.

mrs. Armltase s. G.. Forbes of Los
Angeles. Cal, has sent out notices to
old soldiers and their friends calling
their attention to the fact that last
year many OF the coast towns IN Calls
fornia instituted unique and beautiful
form OF pay ing tribute to the sailor
soldiers. whose unknown graves are in
the mighty sea. The schools. says Mrs
FoEbes. took active interest in che SOL
enn ceremony, and bands of children
marched to bluff or wharf or waters
edge ard east their flowers On the faca
OF the restless ocean, while their voices
blended in patriotic songs with the MUIR
muir OF the waves Mrs. Forbes also
calls attention to the fact that the idea
may easily become national custom il
all interested and influential people will
concur and assist in making it so.
With an idea OF sscertainipg the senti-
ment of prom nent G.. A. r.. people in St
Paul. G b e reporter called on sew
eral of them yesterday and all expressed
themselves as being in favor of the
plan The idea has met with the sincere
approval Of several of Americas fore
most officers in the navy ard already the
sentiment is gaining ground 1apidly that
this practice ought to be made a regular
part of the Memorial day exercises
Capt j. J. McCardy, past department
commander of the G.. A. r. In Mime
sota in speaking Of the matter yester>
day said
at think it very appropriate lust at
this time Of the year when preparations
are making for Memorial day It GER
tatnly is a beautiful custom and the
thanks of all the old soldiers are due
to Mrs. Forbes and her associates who
originated the idea. There is not much
we can say here In the interior about
the idea, but l hope the custom will be
continued
Z n lYOt Inv
department commander Of the @. A. r.
In Minnesota: 81 heartily approve of the
idea and hope it may be adopted all over
the United States, wherever there 1s
water running into the ocean or inland
lakes. I think 1t would be appropriate
especially to adopt this idea in this
great forth Star state, where we have
the Father of Waters, the Mississippi
river, which runs into the sea-"
BEAUTIFUL SENTIMENT.
Ex- Mayor F. B. Doran, past COM
nander OF Aeker post, G. A. R., and at
| present a member Of the board of
| trustees of the soldiers home: ''As a.
| sentiment it Is very beautiful and
| should fully approve Of the observance
! of such II custom think it shows just
as much Of desire to pay tribute to the
| dead saiior-soldters in the sea, as does
! the putting of flowers on the graves of
| dead soldiers"
| Mrs. William Kennedy, junior vice
president Of the department of MInne-
| sofa Of the Womans Relief Corps, was
very much in favor Of the idea, and said.
! Il very much approve of the idea and
| think 1t would be very appropriate as a
| part Of the memorial day exercises
| Rcar-AdmfTal W. 7. Sampson, in writ
! ing to Mrs. Forbes, has the following to
say Of the idea: "I have just received
I your courteous note. The ceremony
certainly meets with my most hearty app
| prevail at this time when monuments
! are being erected to the unknown dead,
| buried unrecognized from many batt1s-
! fields, it seems especially fitting that
| some enc should remember the unknown
and unnamed dead of the navy, whose
! resting place will bear no monuments,
and whose sacrifices must be remen-
| bered by their grateful and patriotic fell
low citizens Allow me to congratulate
you on the beautiful way In which YOU
/ have done this. I hope that the good
| citizens Of the Pacific slope will accept
| it as an established custom and repeat
the exercises next year and in all years
! to come"
| Rear Admiral W. g. sehley also writes
| Mrs. Forbes as follows: THANK YOU SO
much for sending me the clipping con-
tanning the tribute to the sailor dead
| on Memorial day. It was sweet
| thought to strew the waters of the rest
less sea on that day In memory Of those
whose bones lie along every ocean high
way around the world; every home In
the land that has been saddened by the
| loss Of some loved one at sea must have
| felt deeply touched by the sweet
| thoLghtfulness Of our grateful country.
men I might add that no eulogisrn Of
mans courage In war for his home and
| country could be complete that does not
/ include womaa's part and woman's sacrf-
/ flee also''