Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-06-05
FLOWERS FOR OUR HEROES
BRIGHT SKIES FOR MEMORIAL DAY AND
CROWDS ON THE STREETS.
Auditorium Filled at the Public Services s-Ad-
mirable Address by James Fisk Hooker
Splendid Tribute to the Nations Dead Pray
or at the Monument, Blossoms on the Graves


Everything helped to make Memoria
Day memorable day. The refreshing
rain of Friday night made everything
more beautiful, sweeter, fresher
brighter. The grass and trees took or
a new green, birds sung, the sun shone
there was breeze enough to spread the
flags. Ideal, indeed! Everybody wa.
interested and the sidewalks were
lined
At / 80 o'clock Co. l., V. n. g.,
marched from headquarters to escort
the old veterans of Sedgwick post tc
the Auditorium, where the public ex-
ercises were held at o'clock The in
spring music set the crowd to keep.
ing step, and when the program opened
at the theatre every seat was filled and
there was hardly standing room. The
members of the post and Of the Relief
corps had reserved seats, and the boxes
we're filled with young lads and misses
| for whom the afternoons exercises had
new but impressive meaning. 1t was
! their first page in the book of Patriot
ism.
The stage was beautifully filled with
bright blossoms, the rail was bower
of white buds, the stars and stripes
were draped here and there. Col. ii.
E. Taylor presided and on the stage
were seated the orator of the day,
James Fisk Hooker, Esq, Col G. A.
Miles. chief marshal, General George
H. Bond, Rev. E. Q. S. Osgood, pas
tor of the Unitarian church, ex-Gov
ernor Frederick Holbrook and his son,
Judge VIM G. Holbrook of New York,
M,lnp 81 ha rnp-
gregational church, Rev. E. T. Mathi-
son, rector Of ST. Michael's Episcopal
church, Rev. Keneston, pastor of West
Brattleboro Congregational church,
Commander c. +. R. Jenne Of the Sons
of Veterans, Principal II. X. Whitaker
of the High school, Frank B. Putnam,
Rev. r. X. Marvin, pastor Of the Uni
versalist church, H. Z. Gordon, Luke
Ferriter, Judge William S. Newton,
r. II. Putnam and others.
The services opened with music by
the band. Prayer was then offered by
Rev. III. r. Miles, who thanked God
that the foundations of our country were
laid in liberty and truth. The Gettys
burg address of President Abraham
Lincoln was read by Adj. E. II. Put
nam, followed by song, very well rem
dered, by Frank Brasor. The address
of the day was then given by Mr.. |
Hooker Col. Taylor. the chairman,
the speaker, paid a touch
ing tribute to the memory of the late |
Col. Hooker, ''the presence we miss so
much today"
In opening Mr.. Hooker spoke to the |
Grand Army of tn Republic as a Son |
Of Veteran, and greeted the gallant |
soldiers who were with his father at |
the front but it is on this day Of |
days that our thoughts instinctively |
turn to those heroic men who went |
forth not to return
When the news came that Sumter
lad been fired on and that secession
vas rampant in the land the North and
Vest did not hesitate, but leaped forth |
% uphold the flag They believed their
whole country to be one nation. and
hey could not live and see it torn into
, miserable fabric of hostile and rival
Itates. They turned back the bloody
md malignant tide of human slavery.
IN this day of heroic memories, when
he spirit of our national victories fills
With honest pride each patriots heart,
We cannot fail to remember those by
rome days.
at is a small offering that the gov
,rnmept brings to- day and casts upon
he mounds all over this broad land, un
lerneath which lie the remains of
Ter dead defenders, who were the
strength of her homes, the pride of her
and the immortal witne.