The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-06-03
Tlonesta Honors the Soldier Dead.


a beautiful day and a beautiful ob-
servauce of the same was the celebration
OF Memorial Day last Saturday. The
streets early took on a holiday appear
ance, business generally being suspended
for the time, aud our citizens with their
visiting friends gave themselves up 10
the proper and fitting observance of the
day. Many friends came in from the
sur oundipg country to assist in and
witness the ceremonies, which began
promptly at l:G0 o'clock in the afternoon.
An elaborate and elegant dinner had been
prepared by the Woman's Relief Corps
at their hall for the old soldiers, their
families and visiting friends. What this
band of patriots does it does well, and the
splendid repast was no exception to the
universal rule.
The line Of march was formed in front
of the Post Hall and marched around the
square on the river front, up May street
aud lack to Elm, thence to beautiful
Riverside-to-day more beautiful than
ever where the pleasing but solemn
Grand Army ceremony of strewing
flowers over the graves of the honored
dead was carried out with precision. The
march back to the court house followed
the completion of the decoration of the
graves, the procession eing headed hy
the coruet band, where a most royal treat
was in store for the immense concourse
of people, and where the orator ofthe day,
being none less then our own Joseph Q.
Sibloy, was met by a packed house,
many being unable to find seats. The
speaker was preceded by number of
pretty selections by the band and choir
of our best singers.
lbAs Mr.. Sibley rose to address the large
crowd of men and women who had as
sembled to hear him, he was greeted
with a hearty applause. Every eye was
upon the graceful orator in the eXpecta-
ton of an intellectual feast, and the pro-
found silence, which lowered over the
assembly as he proceeded, was broken
only by repeated applause, and spoke
more elcquently than words of little
Forests high appreciation of its dis
tinguished member of congress. The
address breathed the scholarly attain
ments and the patriotic ieryor of the
statesman, and his tribute of honor and
respect for the brave boys of the COS who
barred their breasts to the st-m of battle
in noble defence of their country,
strengthened the ties of friendship al
ready existing between Mr.. Sibley and
his constituents.
Among the many excellent things Mr..
Sibley said was, that when student of
history he was of the opinion that all the
decisive battles were won by generals
and other officers of the army, and it was
not until he had visited the well known
cemetery at Arlington that the real truth
dawned upon him, to whom the greatest
credit was due. There, upon the thous-
ands of white marble slabs containing
the word, Unknown, is the unwritten
history Of victorious armies. To those
who composed the rank and file is the
nation indebted and it is only fitting that
the nation pay its tribute of love to its
humble heroes Mr.. Sibley also said
that as he neared the sunset of life that
which he will consider the proudest act
of his Congressional work is his securing
pensions for the soldiers of the rank and
iie.
Surely, Memorial Day, 1908, was a
splendid success in Tionesta, and the
occasion will long be referred to as one of
the most auspicious in tho history of our
town, thanks to the members OF George
Stow Post and its most efficient auxiliary,
the Woman's Relief Corps. All honor to
them.