Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-05-29
THE HISTORY OF MEMORIAL DAY

ID

around their sacred remains and garland
the passlonless mounds above them with
the choicest flowers OF springtime: let us
raise above them the dear old flag they
saved from dishonor: let us in this
solemn presence renew our pledges To
aid and assist those whom they have
ie1t among us a sacred charge upon a ma
tlon gratitude, the soldiers and sailors
widow and orphan
ii. 1t is the purpose of the commander
In chief To inaugurate this Observance with
the hope that it Will be kept up from wear
10 year. while "A survivor of the war re-
mains TO honor the memory OF his departed
comrades He earnestly desires the pub
nc press TO lend its friendly aid in bringing
10 the notice Of comrades in all parts of
the country in time for simultaneous com
pliance Herewith
III. Department commanders will use eff
iorts TO make this order effective BY
order OF
JOHN A. LOGAN.
Commander in Chief
Into almost every community in the north
TINS proclamation found its way. and the
people responded as they had responded to
the call to arms. This time. however. nons
were disqualified. Mothers. daughters
wives, sweethearts, the young and tine aged.
joined the throngs that marched in the
streets, that pressed about the burial plots
eager to lay upon the graves of the country's
fallen defenders the wreaths of flowers
which loving hands made So unanimous
was the response that in corresponding
order which was issued by Logan in the
year following was inserted this para.
graph:
The commander In chief desires to thank
those patriotic men and women who eavs
their aid and sympathy on a former coca
sion to make successful this national
Memorial day, and they are cordially in
Vlted 10 unite with the comrades of the
grand army in the approaching cere-
monies and he thanks the IoyaI press
everywhere. through whose generous aid n
lasting record has been made of the oh
scrNahctS ore year ago. To the congress
OF the United states the comrades are es-
pecially Indebted for authorizing the nub
lcaton, In book form. OF the proceedings
OF last May. ard for the promise held ont
IndI edcn year a compilation will be made
ana puollshed, as national recognition
Of sympathy with these memorial observ-
anCes
While Memorial day is not national 10
gal holiday. many state legislatures have
made the day a state holiday sacred to the
memory OF the nations heroes Some states
Which have TO statutory holidays also oh
serve tne day. In some sections of the
south the 9th of April has been the dats
upon which to garland the graves of ia,
confederate dead. Each succeeding vo,,
IT. Is apparent from the speeches of Nero
RAJ day orators. both north and south that
the Old sectional feeling is disappcarine
NO event since the civil war has bette,
served to draw tho north and the souib -,
gether than the late war with SPAIN Tho,
great sections of the country vicj ,,;tL
each other in furnishing men to fight
common foe, and they now ioin each OH,
IN paving tribute TO the fallen. I'm the i'm
pressive ceremonies which not long since
attended the burial, at Arlington. OF sone
Of the soldier boys who gave up their lives
IN Cuba, every state and territory Of the
union felt that It had an interest and =
part. with common gratitude and sorrov
the north and the south viii i'm future gath.
or eJ the graves OF the nations heroes and
make fragrant with flowers n cornr,o,,
memorial season. They will remember that
their countrymcn "havc stood To tbcir
guns and been shot down i'm greater com.
paratlve numbers than any other race ON
earth, and yet withal. that we arc not
a warlike people that the great mass of our
citizens desire only freedom and Justice
The war, Gen. Grant once prophesied
referring 60 the strife Of 81 "has made us
nation OF great power and intelligence
We have but little to do to preserve peace
happiness and prosperity at home, and the
respect OF other nations. Our experience
ought to teach us the necessity Of the first
our power secures the latter. I feel that
we are ON the eve of a new era. when there
o. 90 be great harmony between the federaIs
and the confederates I cannot stay to la
a living witness Of this prophecy, but feel
1t within RE that It is to be 20. The uni.
versaliy kind feeling expressed for me. AZ
time when it was supposed that each dagf
would prove my last, seemed to me tho be. \
ginning OF the answer to let US have peace. -