The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-29

I lIT8QI
Army of the Republic, issued orders for
the observance of May 80, as Memorial,
or Decoration, Day. That was in 1868,
three years after the close Of the civil
war. The relatives, friends and com
rades of the fallen heroes who wore the
blue and preserved the Union at the
price of their hearts blood, observed the
day most fttingly. But. despite the fact
that thousands of those observed the
arst Memorial Day have gone to their
final resting places and are occupying
graves on the slopes of Arlington, and
that the ranks of the G. A. R. are stead
lily growing thinner and thinner, tomor-
row the day will be observed in Wash
ington as it has never been before.
Ranks Steadily Thinning.
Those hoary veterans who have fought
life's battles with the same fortitude and
courage which they showed during the
civil strife, and still remain with us us
reminders of that great strife. purpose
to honor their fallen comrades, and viii
be ably assisted by the women auxili
aries of local patriotic fraternities. The
mounds that cover the forms of the
hallowed dead will be the points of pill
grimage to which thousands Of Wash
ingtonians will bend their steps tomor-
row, and the flowers that cover the spots
where the men of the civil and Spanish
American wars are at rest speak but
one phrase; Honor to the hero dead.
Since the last Memorial Day more than
a thousand members of the G. A. r. OF
Washington have departed this life.
That means that those who still survive
must make their exercises more elabor-
ate. and their work is, therefore, much
heavier every year. Not to be outdone
by the older veterans. the Spanish War
Veterans have planned to decorate the
graves Of their fallen comrades at the
same time the G. a. R. veterans hold
their services at Arlington.
Exercises at Arlington.
Although the majority of the heroes
who suceumbed during the two wars are
sleeping at Arlington, there are large
number in the other cemeteries in and
about Washington, and it is intended to
make the ceremonies equally impressive
Arlington Cemetery will be in charge
OF Commander Ivory G. Kimball. OF the
Department of the Potomac. who has
labored hard and faithfully in order to
complete the arrangements for this
great celebration. At Arlington the SER
vices will be held in the amphitheater.
They will be as follows:
Sounding the assembly, bugler; fun
eral march. Chopin. Marine Band;
Nearer, My God, to Thee" band, me-
mortal choir, and assembly; calling the
assembly to order. I. G. Kimball. de-
partment commander; Flowers and
Peace" Ward. memorial choir: invo-
cation, the Rev. H. S. Stevens, depart
ment chaplain; Still Keep Their Mem
DRY Green" WARD. memorial choir;
reading orders, B. 2. Chase, assistant
adiutant general; "Inflammatus, Stabat
Mater (RossinD, Marine Band: poem.
Col. John A. Joyce; 20. Shining Light"
(Smith). Marine Band; Lincoln's Get
tysburg address. Major John Tweedale,
U. s. A; "The Veterans Last Song
Nozier), dedicated to Gen. John A.
Logan. Prof Jasper Dean McFall. Ma
Charles Emory Smith; ITO Thee, o |
Country" (Eichberg). Marine Band and |
choir; America" band, choir, |
and assembly; benediction, the Rev
George P. Wilson, D. D.
Charles Emory Smith Will be the ora
tor of the day, and although all of the !
mounds viii be suitably decorated and |
honored with appropriate services, the |
principal ceremonies will be held at the |
Tomb of the Unknown" Representa- |
tives of the different divisions of the |
Women's Relief Corps will place the
flowers on the tomb
The Spanish War Veterans will re-
lleve their elder comrades of guard duty
at some Of the services, and in other