The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1901-06-05
DAY We DECORATE.
ORIGIN OF THIS NOW NATIONAL
EVENT.
No Comfort in the Order for
Those Who Wore the
Gray.
DEPEw GAVE DAY A LITTLE UNITY.

The observance of Decoration day by
the Grand Army of the Republic
dates from the issuance of the famous
General order No. II, by John A. Lo-
gan on May ;, 1868.
This document breathed the spirit of
the old campaigner, who had not learn
ed to regard his enemy of yesterday as
his friend of to-day,
Ten years later Chauncey NJ. Depew,
Northerner in an eloquent address at
the Academy of Music in New York,
gave the celebration poetic tingle by
crediting its first observance to the PEG.
pie Of the South.
This expression, as much as anything
else, unified the efforts of the North and
South to honor their soldier dead. May
80 is now regarded as Decoration day in
all parts of this country. 1t is the APP
pointed time at which tributes of regard
are paid to the men who persisted on
both sides.
The order which created Decoration
day read:
HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY
or THE REPUBLIC,
WASHINGTON, May 3, 1863. J
The seth day of May, 1868, is desig-
mated for the purpose of strewing with
flowers, or otherwise decorating the
graves of comrades who died in defense
of their country during the late rebel
lion, and whose bodies now lie in al
most every city, village, hamlet and
churchyard in the land. In this observ-
ance no form Of ceremony is prescribed,
but posts and comrades will, in their
own way, arrange such fitting services
and testimonials of respect as circum-
stances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our
regulations tell u.s. for the purpose,
among other things "of preserving and
strengthening those kind and fraternal
feelings, which have bound together
soldiers, sailors and marines who united
together to suppress the late rebellion. 4"
What can aid more to assure this re-
suit than by cherishing tenderly. the
memory of our heroic dead, who made
their breasts a barricade between our
country and its foes. Their soldier
lives were the reveille of freedom to
a race in chains, and their deaths the
tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms
We should guard their graves with sa-
cred vigilance. All that the consecrat-
ed wealth and taste of the nation can
add to their adornment and security is
but fitting tribute to the memory Of
her slain defenders. Let no wanton
foot tread rudely on such hallowed
grounds Let pleasant paths invite the
coming and going of reverent visitors
and fond mourners.
Let no vandalism of avarice or neg
lect, no ravages of time testify to the
present or to the coming generations
that we have forgotten, as a people,
the cost of free and undivided repub-
lie
If other eyes grow dull and other
hands slack, and other hearts grow cold
in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it
well as long as the light and warmth of
life remain to u.s.
Let us then, at the time appointed,
gather around the sacred remains and
garland the passionless mounds above
them with the choicest flowers of spring
time 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 left among us, sacred charge
upon nations gratitude-the soldiers
and sailors widows and orphans.
1t is the purpose of the commander-in-
chief to inaugurate this observance,
with the hope that it will be kept up
from year to year while a survivor of
the war remains to honor the memory
of his departed comrades. He earnestly
desires the public press to call atten-
ton to this order and lend its friendly
aid in bringing it to the notice of COM
rades in all parts of the country in time
for simultaneous compliance Herewith.
Department commanders will use ev-
cry effort to make this order effective.
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-C Chief.