Evening journal., 1904-05-25
Men Who Fought and
BIed for Country to
Decorate Graves of
Fallen Comrades
Route of Parade Will Be
Short Because of Fail
ing Strength of Vet
erans-The Program

To decorate the graves of their comrades
who fell in battle and those who have
since succumbed in hfe's great war, Grand
Army men in this city will turn out in
fun force on next Monday which Isl
Memorial Day-the greatest day Of all the
year to those who fought for the nag dur
ing the rebellion.
Not only will Wilmington veterans take
part in the local exercises, but o.d SOL
diers from many Of the nearby towns will
come to this city to swell the ranks that
are each year becoming smaller.
The morning will be taken up by the
eoldiers in visiting the different cemeter-
les where their comrades are buried and
covering their graves with flowers and
placing an American flag on each. This
work has been laid systematically. Each
post OF veterans Is assigned to a certain
number OF cemeteries and the work Of
decorating the graves is always finished
in the forenoon.
At the Cemeteries.
The following is the manner in which the
cemeteries will be covered: Thomas A.
smyth Post, No. /, Asbury, Old swedes.
Riverview and Wilmington and Brandy
wine; E. Grant Post No 70. New Cath
edral. silverbrook: Sheridan Post, No. %.
Wilmington and Brandywine. Riverview;
Charles Sumner Post No. (colored), all
colored cemeteries.
Dinner will be served in the different
post rooms and the veterans will prepare
for the parade Of the afternoon.
The procession iwl form at Fourth and
French streets and proceed up Fourth 70
Market, to Eleventh. TO Delaware avenue,
Ito the Soldiers Monument. to Garfield S
Monument and there dismiss.
The route Of necessity must be short
The veterans are not able to make the
marches they did in the sixties. although
st is wonderful 20 see how they throw out
their chests and square their shoulders
when the martial music brings back their
memories OF those triumphant marches In
the face Of cannon and Of musketry as
they stormed the breastwork or attackeo d
the enemy.
A deep pathos mngles with the sorrow
which attends the Memorial Day cele.
bration these later years. Times hand i;
falling heavily upon these gray-haired mer
who fought and bled for their country and
with each succeeding year their number
Iecomes smaller. Each feels that on the
next Memorial Day he may have an.
swered the last roll call and that nj,
grave may be among those TO be decorated
by surviving comrades.
1t is now but a question Of few more
years when the day will live only as
memory.
After the old heroes are gone, We VIII,
are left can only scatter bloom upoI
their graves and thus DO honor to thos
who saved their country in the time Of il
dlrest need.
Commander MendinhaIPs Story.
The following letter has been SEN
out by Post Commander William Men
denhall, of Dupont Post:
Memorial Day with its duties of Low,
for our fallen comrades by strewinl
thier graves with flowers and plant
ing thereon the beautiful emblem o
our country "Old Glory is once NOR
near at hand. Your cordial co-opera
ton and prompt attendance upon tn
following named musters of the Pos
is earnestly requested:
Sunday, May 29--First, at $50 a. m
10 attend service at Brandywine NJ. Z
Church; second, at p. m, for tn
purpose Of attending joint memoria
service at the Delaware Avenue Bap
tist Church.
Monday. May sO-First, at a. m
sharp. to proceed by hacks to tn
grave OF Admiral S. +. DUPONT, to 81
Joseph. Green nm and Mt. Salem Gem
eteries TO decorate the graves OF ou
departed comrades. Second, at p m
TO participate in a short street parad
with our sister posts.
Comrades, it Is my earnest desir
that you attend promptly at all OF tn
above musters. Remember that eac
Memorial Day finds fewer OF us in lin
and more at rest IN their silent tomb
Full regulation dress is requested a
far as possible. BY order Of WillaI
Mendenhall, Post Commander.
Onicial--J. S. Litzenberg. Adjutant.
Mayor May Head Parade.
Il is expected that Mayor Bird an
City Council win head the Memoir;
Day parade in carriages. There viii |