Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-06-03
Damp and Cloudy Weather.
but Successful Program.
THE SPLENDID GRAFTON
Imposing Procession, Beautiful Music
Fragrant Flowers, Patriotic
0ratOry-MemOrable Day.

Saturday dawned cloudy, cold and
cherries, with a damp, chilly
wind from the northeast, which
made the day very disagreeable for
all outdoor exercises.
Promptly at $50 the procession
formed before the G.. A. R. hall,
headed by the band. There was a
goodly representation of veterans i'll
line. Following them were the
little girls, each bearing a beautiful
bouquet of flowers; vehicles with
the w. r. G. and citizens.
AT the cemetery the solemn and
impressive ritualistic service pre-
pared for the occasion was read.
This was followed by the reading Of
Lincoln's immortal memorial adj
dress at Gettysburg. Then the child
rem were assembled in parties and
marched to the several soldiers
graves about the cemetery and left
their beautiful offerings. Then the
procession returned to the hall in
the same order.
At lis the procession reformed
and marched to the Court house
park, where the impressive ceme-
mony Of decorating the soldiers
monument occurred There was
music by the band, a prayer by Rev.
Sprague, song by the children, and
decoration of monument.
From here the possession marched
to the City opera house, where the
following exercises concluded the
program.
Opening appropriate remarks by
A. C. Morse and G. H. Baxter.
Prayer by Rev. Morgans.
Reading Of Lincoln's Gettysburg
Grafton by G. FL. Nye.
Address by John J. Blaine, of
Boscobel, which commanded the
perfect attention of the large audi
ence. The address was considered
a mastery effort, and the pleasing
manner of it's delivery added to the
general good impression.
Mr.. Blaine believed the nation
grateful to the citizen soldier and
possessed Of full sense of appricia-
ton of the value of his services in
the civil war. Memorial day being
one of the many expressions of
veneration for and devotion to the
memory of the deal soldier, as well
as a source of pleasure and satisfac-
ton to the living veterans who
yearly witness the ever-in creasing
respect for the day and it's signitic-
ance.
He dwelt particularly ON the i'm
portance of educating the young in
lessons of patriotism, in the house,
the school, and on all public occa
siOns. Children so reared will
always respond to the call for aid
when danger threatens the nation,
and will never become anarchists.
There was a brief review of the
grand Importance of the work ac-
complished in the saving of the ma
ton, not only to us but as beacon
light of liberty plotting other nations
to higher ideals respecting mans
God-given heritage. Subsequent
events have justified the Importance
of the great victory in the great
development of country and re-
united condition of our people.
The citizen who offered his life
and all prospects for bright future
to the accomplishment of this work
was not brutalized by the five years
of fearful carnage. He did not ask
a great reward for his self-sacrifce,
or even demand that trying condi-
tons be imposed on conquered and
Inundated though brave people.
1t was enough for him to know
that he had saved the Union to his
posterity, and he willingly and joy
fully returned to the arts of peace,
with soul as free from the stain of
human destruction as ON the day
when he marched forth from home.
This disbanding Of a great army,
without immediate reward or
promise was one of the great results
of lessons in patriotism, and to the
world it was the greatest wonder of
the war. 1t was a guarantee of
future peace and the highest recon-
mendation ever given a free govern
ment
The value of women's work in the
war will never be sufficiently told
OF rewarded. They suffered much,
and were not permitted to ask for
getfulness in the strife. But they
did a noble work in healing the
wounds and providing comforts and