Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-06-04
TEARS FOR THE DEAD,
CHEERS FOR THE lIYlyG''
Despite Weather Memorial Day Has Fitting Observance
In Missouri Valley.
ALL SERVICES OCCUR AT THE new THEATRE.

Although dripping skies, a
cold raw wind and streets al
most impossible conspired
against the carrying out the
program arranged for Memorial
Day, the honored dead were
not forgotten by their old COM
rades, or by those who hold
their memory and achieve
ments in high esteem.
Never was the day more gen
orally observed. Business was
suspended throughout the en-
tire town. The windows of
stores and public places we're
appropriately decorated and all
over town flags hung at half
mast. The veterans met at
their hall at the appointed hour
and delegated a committee con-
sisting of Comrades Emery,
Smith, Campbell and West, to
carry the flowers to the ceme-
terry and strew them over the
graves of the heroic dead who
forty years ago gave their all
into their Country's keeping
and whose deeds all classes
unite in perpetuating. On each
resting place the emblem for
which they suffered and fought
was placed. Among the floral
tributes were fourteen wreaths
sent in loving remembrance by
Mrs. Charles Foster from her
old New England home.
AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
At 1:3O the members of Bel
den Post and other old soldiers,
and the members of Belden
Relief Corps left their hall and
to the strains of drum and fife
the veterans marched to the old
tunes that stirred their blood
and gave quickness to their
step in the old days, until they
arrived at the entrance Of the
opera house, where they parted
ranks and the Relief Corps
passed through the file and
took their places in the boxes,
which were flag draped. Then
the men who wore upon their
breasts the bronze insignia of
their service took the place of
honor in the front of the audi
forum. The music of the or
chestra greeted them.
Post Adjutant w. o. Newton
read the orders of the day from
Headquarter department. Post
Commandant Col. Davis adj
dressed the Post, and at the
close of his address a touching,
ceremony took place. At order
of the Commandant, each vet
eran arose to his feet and
saluted the dead who in years
past had rallied to the support
of the Republic in her crucial
hour. AS these men stood with
head uncovered before the
memory of some young gay
comrades who shed their life
blood to preserve the Union,
the thought was irrisistably
borne upon the lookerson that
it will not be many years until
the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie will not have a representative
in the ranks, and it will be left
to others to pay this fitting
tribute at the shrine of patriot
ism. Rev. w. E. Barber in
voked the Divine blessing. DR..
Colt, who was President of the
Day, read the following address:
There seems to be an organ
lied law, operative in all Gov
ernments, that when they cease
to strive for sublime ideals they
begin to decline. Studying the
efforts of the early Anglo-Sax-
ons along these lines, we find
them discussing human rights
and ending in King Alfred
granting to the world the
treaty of Wexford.
To the Conservatives of this
period it appeared, the goal had
been reached; that there was
nothing more to be attained.
But there arose mighty men
who said no, this is but the be-
ginning; the stepping stone to
a fuller liberty,
A new race Of strong leaders
aroused the people by their
lofty eloquence, and 10, King
John signs the Great Charter