Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-30
ME MORTAL DAY,
Origin of Observance in Memory of
Dead Soldiers.

| use of flowers in their funeral cere-
monies. The Greeks and Romans hon
orcd their heroic dead by magnificent
funerals and various anniversary ceIe-
brations. The greatest orators of the
period were proud to be elected to pay
tribute to the memory of their fallen
| warriors. Pericles was chosen to de-
liver the funeral Grafton over the slain
| in the Peloponnesian war and Dem
oStheneS over the killed in the terrible
| battle of Cheronea. All great nations
of the past have felt and acted upon
| this sentiment, and those of today are
perpetuating the beautiful custom.
Americans honor the heroic deeds Of
their patriot warriors by strewing flow
ers over the graves, and by reciting in
language glowing with patriotic ardor
the historic events made immortal by
their brave citizen soldiery. The
American Memorial day is observed in
almost every part Of the civilized
world; American soldiers lie buried in
almost every cline, from the Arctic
to the tropics, in the far east as well
as at home.
Originally designed as a day to be
set apart for patriotic teaching and for
the paying of a public tribute to the
men who died in their country's Ser
vice, Memorial day has in recent years
made it's observance co-cXtensiVe with
the boundaries of the nation. The dec
Grafton of the graves of the soldier
dead was one of It's impressive feat
ureS, but was extended in many local
tiles to the known graves of soldiers
who had fought in any of the wars in
which the flag of the government had
been impcrilled. Thus soldiers of the
Revolution and of the war of 1872 We're
duly honored as well as those who had
served in the Civil War. In these days
however, there is no state but which
has it's national soldier dead and in
which there are not. found the graves
of brave men who fell lighting on be
half OF their country and under the
flag which represents its power and
authority.
Much has been said regarding the or
igin of Memorial day, and a number OF
theories have been advanced calculat-
ed to prove what suggested to General
Logan the idea to issue orders to the
Grand Army, of which he then was
commander, designating a day on
which every year the graves of COM
rades who died in defence of their
country" should be "strewn with flow
crs." or "othcrWise decorated"
General Joseph Wheeler says that
General LoCInS attention, when on
May ;, 1858, as commander of the
Grand Army of the Republic he is
sued orders in regard to keeping green
the memory of the brave boys in
blue" had no doubt been called to the
custom of the Southern people of an
nually setting apart a day ito pay
reverence to those who sacrificed their
lives for a principle that was dearest
and nearest to their hearts" He says:
The women of the South were ever
asSiduOus in their care of the resting
places of their dead, perhaps because
of the customs peculiar on this side Of
| the Atlantic to Mobile and New Or
leans. where on All Souls Day each
year the cemeteries were carpeted with
untold myriads of rare ana costly flow
crs strcWn by devoted hands over the
graves of the beloved dead.
During the contest between the states
| the women and children of the South
delighted to bring flowers and ever
greens To tttOGdtt lIlC SItNt'S Ut liN
MARTYRS to their cause As the spring
brought the anniversary of the dooms-
| day of the lost cause" tn" fair women
Of Southland instituted another and a
| special day in honor of their beloved
soldiers. and the pathos of the devotion
was the deeper in that the sacrifice Of
their lives had been made, seemingly,
all in vain.
April &c was the day set apart by a
consent spontaneous in its universal
adoption Alabama's and Gcorgia's
first public Decoration Day was in
1866. No more fitting time than the
anniversary of the loss of the cause so
dear to their souls could have been
chosen for the perpetuation of the
memory of their heroes.
| Women and women alone, inaugur-
ated the custom. Men, more reserved
| in the expression of the sentiments of
their hearts. might permit their de-
parted comrades quietly to become a
part of general history; but women
would not have it 50. The Southern
states fell quickly into line, and then
the custom found it's way into the
Northern states. But it is TO General
| John "A. Logan, ulStliiSulShed SOL
der. and no less distinguished as a
statesman. then commander of the
Grand Army of the Republic, that the
nation owes the establishment of Il
National Memorial Day.
General Logan issued the following
order on May s. 1858:
The thirtieth day of May is designat-
ed for the purpose of strewing with
flowers or otherwise decorating the
graves of comrades who died in de-
fence of their country during the late
rebellion. and whose bodies now lie in
almost every city, village and hamlet
churchyard in the land. In this OBJ
sarvance no form of ceremony is pre-
| scrihad but nosts and conrad will