Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-06-02


Memorial day, as it returns each
year brings back memory of those
brave men who fought and served their
country so well under such illustrious
heroes as Grant, Sherman, Sheridan,
Logan, Meade and Thomas. Year by
year the people of this nation have
gathered on this day to perpetuate the
memory of departed veterans and the
sacredness of the occasion has become
SO strongly fixed in our minds that it
will never be neglected as long as the
republic shall endure. 1t is tribute IA
every way worthy of the nations 8
honored dead, and is testimonial of
the love and reverence with which they
will be ever held.
The observance of Memorial day was
instituted in 1868, shortly after the close
of the Civil war, when the memory of
those who sacrificed their lives on the
altars of their country was still fresh,
and the custom has been followed from
that day to this. The vast number of
veterans who participated in the first
ceremonies are growing less each year,
and the little mounds marked by flags
and floral tributes, are each year grow
ing in number. Those who remain to
take part in Memorial ceremonies
realize that that they will soon be with
the silent majority, Notwithstanding
their courage and cheerful efforts to
render an active part each year in
memorial service. A few years hence
the Grand Army of the Republic will
have passed away, and nothing will be
left but its history and memory.
OBSERVANCE IN wAUsAU.
Memorial day was observed in Wau-
sau according to program printed in
this paper and the exercises were wit
messed by the greater part of the city's
population At the appointed time the
crowd began to gather at the court
house square. At 1:30 p. m, Co. G
marched to the soldiers monument and
took up its position, followed by Cutler
Post and Cones band The old soldiers
and Co. q formed about the monument
leaving an opening through which the
flower girls passed and while the band
played dirge the monument was
bedecked with flowers. At the con-
clusion of the ceremony the different
organizations formed in parade and
marched to the cemetery in the follow
ing order: Marshal of the day, j. A.
Jones; boys on ponies; carriage con-
tanning orator and chaplain; flower
girls; assistant Marshal, j P. Briggs;
Cones band; Company q; members of
Cutler Post in carriages; members OF
police force; mayor, council, school
board and other officials; carriages;
citizens en- foot.
Upon entering the cemetery the pro-
cession headed for the soldiers monu-
ment, the old soldiers forming a square
about that piece of granite the band and
members of Co. q remaining outside
the square. The services there were ac-
cording to the ritual of the G. A. r.,
and were lead by ID. NJ Maxson, com.
mander of the Post, and S. S. Arm
strong Following this there w4s a
prayer by the Rev. S. N Wilson. MIR.
Maxson then introduced the speaker of
the day, Hon. w. c. Silyerthorn, who
addressed the old soldiers
MIR. Silverthorn said that while he
, /. as not a soldier he served his country
in civil way from 81 to '65 and re-
membered full well the incidents Of
that stirring time, for many comrade
| from his native town had enlisted and
now sleeps in an unknown grave in the
southland. The enormous magnitude
of that fratricidal conflict can, in a
measure, be judged when we compre-
hend the vastness of the armies engaged
and the terrible slaughter of men. A
regiment spread out in open order, he
said, two abreast would cover mile of
road. At the grand muster out OF
Northern troops 100000 men or a
thousand regiments lay down their
arms, enough to form line from here
to the Gulf ef Mexico, and another
million men had served their time and
been mustered out before these, in this
same army. Yet it required vast
armies to feed the demon of destruction
! In five weeks lighting along the banks
4 of the Rappabaunock. Grant and Lee
lost $1,000 mon between them, indeed
the conflict. for numbers engaged and