Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-29
GRAVES OF SOLDIERS
ORIGIN OF THE OBSERVANCE OF
MEMORIAL DAY.
Ancient Use Of Flowers at Funerals
Orations Over the Dead
Logan's Order.

From the New York Tribune.
Egypt and Greece and Rome all mace
use of flowers in their funeral ceremonies.
The Greeks and Romans honored their
heroic dead by magnificent funerals and
various anniversary celebrations Ihe
greatest orators of the period were proud
to be elected to pay tribute to the memory
of their fallen warriors. Pericles was
chosen to deliver the funeral Grafton over
the slain In the Peloponnesian war and
Demosthenes over the killed in the terri
BILE battle of Cheronea. All great nations
of the past have felt and acted upon this
sentiment, and those of today are perpetu-
ating the beautiful custom.
Americans honor the heroic deeds OF
their patriot warriors by strewing flowers
over THEN graves and by reciting In IAN
guage glowing with patriotic ardor the MIS-
toric events made immortal by their brave
citizen soldiery. The American memorial
day is observed in almost every part OF
the civilized world; American soldiers lie
buried in almost every CLINE, from the
arctic to the tropics. In the 1ar east as
we'll as at home. Originally designed as
day to ba set apart for patriotic teaching
and for the paying of a public tribute to
the men who died In their countrys SER
vice. Memorial day has In recent years
made It's observance co-extenslVe with the
boundaries of the nation. The decoratloh
of the graves of the soldier dead was one
of its impressive features but was extend
ed In many localities to the known graves
Of soldiers who had fought In any OF the
wars in which the flag of the government
had been imperiled. Thus soldiers OF the
revolution and of the war of 1912 were
duly honored as well as those who had
served in the civil war In these Gays,
however, there is no state but which mas
its national soldier dead, ana In Wnich
hn or
men who fell fighting on behalf OF their
country and under the flag which repre-
sents Its power and authority.
History Of the Day.
Much has been said regarding the origin
of Memorial day. and a number of theories
have been advanced calculated to prove
what suggested to General Logan the idea
T., issue orders to the Grand Army, of which
he then was commander. designating day
on which every year 1.-The graves OF COM
rades who died In defense of their country,
should be ''strewn with flowers" or other
wise decorated
General Joseph Wheeler says that Cen
eral Logan's attention. when on May O.,
1858 as commander of the Grand Army OF
the Republic he issued orders In regard 10
keeping green the memory or the brave
bows in blue" had no doubt been called
to the custom of the southern people OF an
nually setting apart day Ito pay rever-
ence to those who sacrificed their lives Tor
a principle that was dearest and nearest 10
their hearts. He says:
THE women of the south were ever asstd-
uous In their care Of the resting places OF
their dead. perhaps because OF the customs
peculiar on this side of the Atlantic to MO
bile and New Orleans. where on All Souls
Day each year the cemeteries were carpet
ed with untold myriads Of rare and costly
flowers strewn by devoted hands over the
graves of the beloved dead During the
contest between the states the women ana
children of the south delighted to bring
flowers and evergreens to decorate the
graves of the martyrs to their cause. AS
the spring brought the anniversary OF the
doomsday of the lost caust.' the fair wo-
men Of the southland instituted another
instituted another and a special day In
honor Of their beloved soldiers, and the
pathos of the devotion was the deeper in
that the sacrifice of their lives had been
made, seemingly. all in vain.
April 26 was the day set apart by con-
sent spontaneous In it's universal adoption.
Alabama's and Georgia's first public deco
ration day was in 1866. No more fitting
time than the anniversary of the loss OF
the cause so dear to their souls could have
been chosen for the perpetuation of the
memory of their heroes. Women, and wo-
men alone, inaugurated the custom. Men,
more reserved in the expression of the sem
timents of their hearts, might permit their
departed comrades quietly to become part
of general history; but women would not
have 1t so. The southern states fell quickly
into line. and then the custom found Its
way into the northern states. But 1T Is to
General John A. Logan. distinguished SOL
der, and no less distinguished as states
man. then commander of the Grand Army
of the Republic. that the nation owes the
establishment of a national memorial day.
Gen. Logan's Order.
General Logan issued the following order
on May 8, 1868:
The 3Oth day of May is designated for the
purpose of strewing with flowers or other
wise decorating the graves of comrades
who died 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 hut
posts and comrades will. in their own way,
arrange such fitting services and testimo-
malls of respect as circumstances may per-
NIT. We are organized, comrades, our
regulations tell US, for the purpose, among
other things, ''of preserving and strength
ening those kind and fraternal feelings
which have bound together the soldiers,
sailors and marines who united to suppress
the late rebellion
What can aid more to assure this result
than cherishing tenderly the memory of our
heroic dead, who made their breasts bar
ricade between our country and its foes?
Their soldier lives were the reveille OF free
dom to a race in chains, and their deaths
the tattoo OF rebellious tyranny in arms.
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 a fitting
tribute to the memory of her slain defend
ers Let no wanton foot tread rudely on
such hallowed grounds Let pleasant paths
invite the coming and going of reverent
visitors and fond mourners. Let no van
dalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of
time testify to the present or the coming
generations that we have forgotten as a
people the cost OF a free and undivided re-
public.
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 they
saved from dishonOr; let us in this solemn
presence renew our pledges to aid and as
sst those whom they have left among US
sacred charge upon a nations gratitude,
the soldiers and sailors widows and or
phans. 1t Is the purpose Of the command
er-in-chief to inaugurate this observance
with the hope that 1t will be kept up from
year to year. while a survivor of the war
remains to honor the memory Of his depart
ed comrades He earnestly desires the pub
liz rrosc IN lend ftr friendly al ~, hr;YrSov