The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-31
TRIBUTE TO
VALIANT DEAD
MEMORY OF DEPARTED HEROES
FITTlNGLY HoNoRED.
WITH SPEECH and FLOWERS
Billings Generously Observes Day Set
Aside for Paying Respect to
Silent Ones.

Although not marked by the sound
of bands playing funeral marches and
the tread OF soldiery and citizens
marching in solemn procession, YET
Billings observed Memorial day more
after the manner of it's observance in
the cities of the east than at any
previous time. 1t being a legal holi-
day, all of the public offices and banks
remained closed, while the merchants
and other business houses closed
their doors at noon and during the
Sunday prevailed.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon there
was a gathering of veterans OF the
civil war at the city hall, where con-
veyances were in waiting to carry
them to the cemetery. The number
of men who had worn the blue was
surprisingly large. Some were in
their ordinary civilian garb, while not
a few wore the uniform of the G. A.
R. and displayed badges showing
them to hold membership in posts in
different states. In other vehicles
were members of the Knights OF Py-
thias, who had responded to the re-
quest of the veterans for participa-
ton in the ceremonies OF the day
by civic societies. Flowers in pro-
fusion were carried by both the old
soldiers and the knights, as we'll as
by numerous Others
At the Cemetery.
Arrived at the cemetery, the vet
Grams scattered and in small squads
decorated the graves OF their fallen
comrades. Flowers and flag were
placed on EACH When this duty of
love had been performed the order
to assemble was given and Mr.. Pat
terson, a veteran, invoked Divine
blessing upon those gathered there.
The Reverend G. B. Miller, pastor OF
the Baptist church, then delivered
short address. He teelingly referred
| to the valorous services rendered
their country by the men whose mem
ory they were honoring and OF the
debt the nation owed them and those
who were still surviving the trying
days when treason and secession
were endeavoring to destroy the gov
ernment. Appeal was made for pre-
servation of the spirit of loyalty and
patriotism that had caused the pa
triots of the sixties to make the awful
sacrifices they did and for perpetual
ton of the blessings of liberty and
freedom for the preservation of which
they had fought and suffered.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Miller's
address, the Reverend Mr.. Miles of
the Congregational church pronounc-
ed a benediction and the ceremonies
were at an end.
While the soldiers were lovingly
remembering their dead, the Knights
OF Pythias were rendering the same
Iof1ices for their departed brothers.
The Silent SIeepers.
Following are the graves of dead
lsoldiers that were decorated:
Abraham Farwell, Alonzo Young,
John Dennison, John Anderson, James
Rowe, Thomas Mallin, John Rigner,
Captain E. Preble, John Richards,
William Stupe and Captain John
Smith, all of the civil war. In addl
ton to these there are buried in the
cemetery the following who were
members of M troop, Third United
States Volunteer cavalry, "Grigsby' S
Rough Riders:" George Davidson, A
Graham, A. B. Newman, 0. Eastman
and Wilbur Mccormick
Sundays Services.
Preliminary to the services and
ceremonies of yesterday observance
of the day was had in the Congrega
tional church last Sunday. On thai
occasion the Reverend Mr.. Miles
preached a special sermon, which was
more in the nature of patriotic ad
dress than the customary Sunday tall
from the pulpit. The music arranged
for the event was also appropriate tt
the day.
In response to the invitation from
Mr.. Miles to the veterans about 81