The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-30
HONORS TO THE
NATIONS DEAD.
Memorial Day Is Fittingly Observed
by Patriotic Citizens Of
Minneapolis.
-------------------------
Wreaths and Flowers Laid by Low
ing Hands Upon Soldiers
Stt Graves.
An Eloquent Address Delivered by
Gen. John G. Black at the
Exposition.


nder associations of a nation found more
,neral observation. perhaps, than has
distinguished any previous Memorial Day.
Everywhere were tokens of the apprecia-
tion and veneration in which Americans
hold the soldier dead, and the same spirit
was manifest in the tribute paid to the
blue CARRIED veterans who still answer the
roll call. Turnout the city was heard the
shrek of fife and roll of drum. Every
where old soldiers We're rallying around
the old flag.
From every Grand Army post veterans,
school children, their friends and rela-
tives went forth to the cemeteries TO
take part in the beautiful exercises. The
cool weather and keen, invigorating air
permitted a much larger turnout than
the warm weather usually prevailing at
this time allows and veterans took part
in the exercises without fear of exhaus-
ton from heat.
The ideal weather prevented any tedious
waits at the cemeteries, and enabled the
veterans to get home in good season for
dinner, in fine fettle for the parade and
union services In the afternoon. The Sons
of Veterans, the Women's Relief Corps
and the Ladies' Auxiliary, the allied orders
of the G. A. r.. took prominent part
In the exercises.
Unknown Dead Remembered.
Nor were the unknown dead forgotten
the soldiers who marched away in the
pride of young manhood to sleep In I'M
marked graves under southern skies. The
regular ceremony prescribed by the Grand
Army in 1ner1nora ton Of the
known dead was fittingly observed by
the Dudley P, Chase post and corps from
the steel arch bridge in the heart OF the
city. After the impressive ritual had
been read floral offerings in profusion
were scattered on the broad bosom of
Thousands
dead found their last resting place by
''the shores Of the inland river, whence
the fleets of iron have fied''-a circum-
stance which made the ceremony pecu-
liarly appropriate
Chief Marshall A. A. Kelly met his aides
at the West Hotel at i: AS p. M, and the
parade. which had been forming for an
hour before that time was in marching
order shortly after 2. Including the differ
ent secret societies and civic bodies there
were about 5000 men in line.
The line OF march was down Nicollet
avenue from Tenth street and across the
steel arch bridge to the Exposition build
ing. where General John G. Black of Illi-
nois delivered the address of the day
General Blacks Address,
General Black spoke without; manu-
script. The address was full of the fire
of the great soldier and of the courtesy Of
until the peroratior1 when he used the
story of the deeds of Minnesota men in
the war as climax he was listened to
intently. He aroused the patriotism OF
his large audience. General Black first in
troduced many great men of the war as
his recollection brought them to mind He
described these men and told where they
came from The speaker pointed to what
they did in the course of the war. He
dwelt on some of the more notable en-
gagements and then told what these en-
gagements accomplished permanently
both in the war and in the way of estab-
n fishing civil liberty and the reign of right
eousness on the earth.
At this point the speaker became pro-
phetic and pointed out as possible GER
tain future events made possible with the
republic and with the nations of the worl6
and then expressed his own ideas of tbs
future of American civilization and oil
American Institutions in different parts OF
the earth.
The flag. it's significance, what it has
stood for and what it now stands for, wal
the basis of one of the most patriotic out
bursts of the entire address. Closing som,
reference was made to the manner In
which Minnesota bore herself in the grea;
war, special reference being made natur
ally to the glorious deeds of the famou.
First Minnesota, which ranks as regi
ment among the first in the history O
Il wars