News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-05-29
Decorating
The Graves
HOW A BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM
ORIGINATED.
Do-s-sID0- 004-s-00 0.i-f-e

we'll established and it is SO generally
observed that Memorial day has be-
come as much a holiday in the estima-
ton of many people as the Fourth of
July or Christmas. The interest in its
observance grows no less as the years
go by. The marching Grand Army
men become more notable as they grow
older, and their ranks attract more at
tention as they grow smaller. The re-
spect for the day has been firmly plant
ed in the hearts of the people.
Among the thousands who assemble
in the various parts Of the country on
Memorial day there are doubtless many
who do not know the origin of the GUS
tom, and even in the ranks of the Grand
Army of the Republic there are enthu-
siastic members who are uniformed
on that important point. The decora-
ton of soldiers graves was not the
prime object of the Grand Army Of the
Republic, but it was one of its first re-
suits. The favor with which the prac-
tice was received in all parts of the
country gained for the organization the
Endorsement of many people who would
have been indifferent to it if its object
had been only social or fraternal.
Grand Army historians say that ADr.
Benjamin Franklin Stephenson, who
served in the army as surgeon of the
Fourteenth Illinois volunteer regiment,
was the first to conceive the idea of an
organization in which the friendships
formed amid the perils and privations
of duty in the field might be preserved
and perpetuated. His scheme embrac-
ed also the care and education Of the
women and children who had been de-
prived of their husbands and fathers,
the building Of homes for homeless vet
Grams and aid for destitute and dish
bled members Of their fraternity.
The philanthropic plan took form in
April, 1866, when Major Stephenson
organized Post No. l at Decatur, Ills,
with II comrades. SO well was the
movement received that in November
of the same year Dr. Stephenson, as
provisional commander in chief, pre-
sided over a national encampment at
Indianapolis, and the Grand Army of
the Republic soon became a powerful
organization, cementing in friendship
those who became it's members, car
ing for those who were helpless and
hOnoring the memory of those who had
gone before them. Within two years
the membership had grown to 100000,
from
CARELESS of rank or station, were proud
to wear the G. A. r. badge. General
John A. Logan was elected command
err in chief in 1863 and the subject OF
decorating the soldiers graves came
up for discussion during his admins
tration. He issued the first order for
the observance of the day.
There are conflicting opinions as to
who was the first to suggest the deco
ration of the graves, but it is generally
believed that the idea came from for
mer private, who wrote to Colonel N.
p. Chapman, member of General Lo-
gan's staff. The writer was a German,
who lived in Cincinnati at that time.
He spoke of the custom which prevail
ed in his home Of strewing flowers
upon the graves Of the dead and
thought it would be well to honor the
dead comrades in that way. Unfortu-
nately the name Of the man who made
the suggestion has not been preserved,
and the beautiful custom remains cred
tied to the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie and to no individual. In the first
order directing the decoration of the
graves which was issued on May 5,
1868, General Logan said:
eve should guard the graves with
sacred vigilance. All that the conse-
Grated wealth and taste of the nation
can add to their adOrnment and securi-
ty is but a fitting tribute to the men,
DRY of her slain defenders. Let no
wanton foot tread on such hallowed
ground Let pleasant paths invite the
coming and going Of the reverent visit
ors and fond mourners. Let no van
dalism of avarice or neglect, no raw
ages of time, testify to the present or
to the coming generations that we have
forgotten as a people the cost of the
free and undivided republic. If other
eyes grow dull and other hands slack
and other hearts cold in the solemn
trust, ours rhall keep it we'll as long
as the light and warmth of life remain
with us.
''Let us, then, at the time appointed
gather around their sacred remains and
garland the passionless mounds above
them with the choicest flowers Of
springtime; let us raise above them the
dear old flag they saved from dishonor;
let us renew our pledges to aid and as
sist those whom they have left among
us, sacred charge upon nations
gratitude, the soldiers and sailors wild
ow and orphan"
In this order General logan appoint
ed May 80, 1865 the day for decorating
the graves, and the response was so
general throughout the land that there
could be no doubt as to the sentiment
of the people on the subject; but, to
make sure that there should be no de-
Rarture from the custom, the national
encampment, which was held two years
later in Washington, adopted the fol-
lowing, which became part of the rules
and regulations of the organization:
''The national eDcampment hereby
establishes Memorial day, TO be OBJ
served by the members of the G.. A. r.