The National tribune., 1903-05-21
MEMORIAL DAY.
Some Suggestions to Program and Poetry Suitable for the
Occasion

Many requests have come to The Ma
tional Tribune for Memorial Day poetry,
songs, and even full programs for cere-
monies upon that day. 1t has been i'm
possible to seIid anything to individuals.
but believing that many thousands of the
readers of The National Tribune will be
pleased with the publication of some of
the best poems that have ever been writ
ten for Memorial Day, and with sugges-
tions for exercises, the following has been
arranged with painstakins care.
|
1t is the custom of Grand Army Posts
in the East to hold Memorial exercises for
the veterans of that Post who have been
mustered into the Grand Army above dur
ing the year. These exercises are held on
Sunday evening some time in May, and
the Commander of the Post presides, as
sisted by the officers of the Post, using
the Memorial service prescribed by the
ritual. The Corps auxiliary to the Post,
| if there is one, and the patriotic women,
otherwise, assist in the exercises. attend
ing in a body, and preparing the flow
ers that are used. A brief Memorial ser
mon is preached and the music is suitable
for the occasion. Battle Hymn of the
Republic" 'Tenting Tonight" Lay
Them Low" and songs of that character,
closing always with America"
Just after the conclusion of the SER
mon. the Adjutant of the Post calls the
roll of the dead for the year, at the same
time reciting the army service of the de
ceased veteran. AS each name is called,
as has been previously arranged, some
lady steps to a table which stands, flag
draped, in front of the altar, and recit-
ing an appropriate sentiment, sometimes
verse OF poetry, or Il text OF scripture,
lays upon the table an offering of How
ers in memory of the dead. 1t makes
cnrvicn and most lfnDrpS-
sive. 1t is suggested that in small COM
munities, where the deaths of veterans
are never more than score, this GUS
tom might be followed for the regular
Memorial exercises. preceding the wreath
ing with flowers of those graves made be-
fore this Memorial year opened.
Another impressive custom which has
been much more in use in the West than
the East, is that of rearing q cross to the
memory of the unknown dead. There are
so many, many thousands of these scat
tered all over the Union, and they de-
serve this little tribute. The cross may be
always be covered with wreaths and YER
dure before the exercises about it begin.
Wreaths and flowers are then heaped upon
it. preceded and followed by any little ex-
ercises that loyal hearts may prompt. In
many cemeteries this cross IS 4 permanent
structure. often six feet high. made double,
and filed with rows of holes. into which
bouquets of flowers may be thrust. COM
petely covering the wood. The effect is
very fine.
Then there are those @Who went down
to the sea in ships" to fight the battles
of the country upon the water. and found
there their briny sepulcher. For the dead
of the navy those who live near bodies of
wafer scatter their fra grant flowers upon
the bosom of tire placid rivers and lakes,
or upon the sea, in memory of those who
fought with Farragut and Porter, Decatur
and Dahgren. IF the exercises are held in
church the baptismal font is often used
for this ceremony with fine effect, much
the same exercises being used for this as
for the unknown dead.
If possible TO secure bugler. it is well
TO open with the sounding of the Assem-
bly," This may be followed by band mu-
sic. if there is a band. dr an organ vol |
untary, or piano solo. The next in order |
may be a song, followed by calling of the
assembly to order by the Commander OF |
the Post. or, in the absence of Post. by |
tie Chairman of the meeting. In sue
cession would come the following: Invo-
cation; song: reading of orders. and roll
of deceased comrades: song; Grafton; Song, |
or music by band; recitation; music: bene-
dction. If the ceremonies for the un-
known dead, and those who died at sea,
are used, they will appropriately follow the
ceremony of dropping flowers to the MEN,
ory of the dead Of the year.
The following selections are given as en-
tirely appropriate to the day. They are
among the finest tributes ever written to
the memory of fallen heroes.