The Somerset reporter., 1904-06-02
MEMORIAL DAY.
Usual Exercises In Coburn Hall


Monday, May 30ih, was very favor
able day for the exercises of Memorial
dav. The afternoon was not bright but
the temperature was Just right for
marching and for the outdoor exercises
at the cemeteries.
The members of Russell Post met at
Grand Army Hall at u sop. M. ALSO mem.
bers of Wides Camp, Sons of Veterans
and veterans of the Spanish war. Thel
found the ladies of Russell Relief Corps
there with an ample supply OF button
hole bouquets for all who formed part
of the procession.
AT o'clock the procession, consisting
of t.accabee Band, Company E, Nation
al Guards, Russell Post, G. A. R. ano
Russell Relief Corps formed under the
direction of Capt. F. Fl. Wing and pro
ceeded to Coburn Hall to participate 10
the exercises there. Those who formed
the procession were seated In the center
Of the hall, and the large auditorium was
well filled by citizens, floor and galleries.
The selectmen and those who took part
in the exercises occupied the stage.
The following order of exercises was
observed, Post Commander, j. p.
Thompson, presiding:
u5tc.. Band
Prayer......... 49,. Rev. b. B. Merrill
Music. =. ....,........... .......Male Quartette
Nayan, Watson,
Taylor, Nye.
Reading of Orders, b. F. Bgelow
Brief Address. Commander ]. p Thompson
Response. .............,...........L L. c. Church
Music. ...........Male Quartette
Memorial Address. Hon. Forrest Good win
Closing Hymn, America...... .......Audience
Benediction ....................R Rev. D. A. Ball
The hall was tastefully decorated IN.
3aG7 direction VI Tine iaGies vi russell
Relief Corps, with plants, flowers, pic
lures and flags. The wreaths and bou-
quets fashioned by the ladies for the
decoration of the Ia graves of veteran,
were arranged In the place for foot
lights upon the stage, forming rich
display Of beautiful f)Wers and ever
green, a very striking feature of the
decoration of the hall. Few have con-
ception of the amount of hard, painstak
ing, intelligent work done for many
years by the ladies of the Relief Corp.
in the decoration of the hall securing
flowers and preparing them for use upon
the graves. Their work is not fully
appreciated by the many who have &
casual knowledge, only, of its impor-
lance. The veterans realize it and thank
the ladies for it.
The exercises in the hall were inter
esting ard appropriate throughout. The
address of welcome to citiz ms by Com.
mander Thompson was brief and warm
the response by L. C. Church, Esq, WAS
a model. He spoke warm words Of ap-
probation of the services Of the soldiers
of the war for the Union and liberty.
The Grafton by Hon. Forrest Goodwin
was eloquent and highly appreciated by
veterans and citizens.
After the exercises ia Coburn hall, the
line was reformed and with veterans
laden with bouquets and wreaths, the
column marched to North cemetery
where sfter prayer by Rev. d. A Ball
the graves were decorated. Then
the march was resumed to South ceme-
terry where ritual exercises were held at
the soldiers monument and the graves
in that cemetery were decorated, after
which the line reformed and returned
to Water street where the procession
was dissolved. A drum corps joined the
procession or it's way to the cemeteries.
Upon returning to G. A. r. hall Rus
sell Post voted thanks to Hon. Forrest
Goodwin for his able grafton, Company
E for performing escort duty the ladies
of the R lief Corps for their efficient as
sistance, the Sohs of Veterans and Vet
Grams Of the Spanish War for uniting
with them, and to others who rendered
aid In the observance of the day.
Following Is summary OF Mr.. Good
wins able Grafton.
| would not weary you with the story Of
the war, it's causes, its events, it's results 1t
has been told over and over again, in Ian
guage more eloquent than | can speak. 1t
seems to me that all that has been said, and
all that has been done, on Memorial Days Of
the past; all that has been done here today,
the excellent service of the choir, the beauti-
full singing Of the children, the eloquent in
vocation to God, all that may be said, or
thought or done may be summed up in these
three short lines,
"My country tits OF thee,
Sweet land OF liberty,
o thee. | sing"
The American people love their country,
with an earnest, intense and loyal love, which
the years have ripened and the generations