The Coconino sun., 1903-05-30
MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES
At Flagstaff Tribute to the Hon ored Dead, Who Died That Liberty
 Mlfht Live.

Otner can the nlRneSJ pflnclpleS or patriotism and loyalty to American institutions has resulted in the indis- soluble welding together of a reunited people and today beautiful floral of- ferings are laid by those who wore the blue upon the graves of the wearers of the gray. And the latter in their de- scendants forgivingly reciprocate in kind.
 Thirty-five years ago General John A. Logan, then commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued the following order from head quarters:
 HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE
 REPUBLIC, ADJUTANT-G GENERALS
 OFFICE 446 FOURTEENTH STREET.
 Washington, D. C., May 5, 1868.
 General Orders No. II. The Both day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of the comrade who died in in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance, no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will, in their own way, arrange such fitting services and testimonials of re- spect as circumstances may permit.
 We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the pur- pose, among other things, of 'preserv- ing and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors and ma rines who united to suppress the late rebellion What can aid more to as- sure this result than cherishing tender ly the memory of our heroic dead? We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders.
 If other eyes grow dim, other hands slack and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us. Let us then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passiOnless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as a sa- cred charge upon the nations grati- tude, the soldiers and sailors widow and orphan.
 Ut is the purpose of the comman- der-in-chief to inaugurate this observ- ance, with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year while a survivor of the war remains to honor the mem- ory of his departed comrades. De- partment commanders will use every effort to make this order effective.
 'By order of JOHN A. LOGAN,
 ''Commander-in-C Chief.
 ''Official: VIM. T. COLLINS, A. A. c.
 ''N. F. CHAPMAN, Adjutant- General.
 The lapse of time seems but to have endowed the observance of the day with an even more tender reverence, and consonant with the custom hal lowed by an observance of more than a generation of time, the members of Ransom Post, G. A. R., gathered at their hall in Flagstaff shortly before g o'clock this morning, preparatory to entering upon the conduct of the days beautiful and impressive memorial exercises.
 Shortly after 9 o'clock, the small band of veterans composing Ransom Post, preceded by the Milton brass band and the well-drilled, fine-appear- ing young men of Co. I, N. G. A., under command of Capt. Breen and Lieut.. Alvord, marched to the court house, where the exercises that fol- lowed were attended with rapt atten- tion and undivided interest.
 On arriving at the court house, af-