The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-06-02

.
thirty o'clock and little time was lost
in getting started. c. Woodruff was
chief marshal, and assistants were
in. Martin, J. r. Gentry, NJ. D. Gil
christ and Major joe Beeson
The line of the parade was made up
Of the following:
Chief marshal and aides.
The Mayor and Platoon of Police.
Iowa Brigade Band.
decentralization Oskaloosa Mac
cabees. ...t.
Company F, I. N. G.
Oskaloosa Drum Corps.
Phil Kearney Post and all soldiers
and sailors of the Civil War.
Disabled soldiers and sailors in am
balances.
Camp Edwyne R. Kissick, l. D. So
ciety, Army of Philippines.
Carriage with Orator of the Day.
Woman's Relief Corps in carriages.
Carriage with Singers.
Citizens on foot.
Citizens in vehicles.
Graves Are Decorated.
Arrived at the cemetery the work
was cared for in a quiet manner. The
decoration of the graves of the depart
ed comrades was carefully looked af-
ter by details of the comrades and a
potted geranium was placed over the
resting place of each one. The old
soldiers then gAthered at, the soldiers
lcSA wnere the ritualistic service was
helF ;sss. - -. Y
SH WAS generally noticed that every
soldier of the city and the sur
roNding country who could possibly
wal\.was in line marching with the
boys. The step is little less vigor-
Gus year by year and the pace not so
certain, but there is renewed energy
among the boys in the preparations
for the day and in the efforts expend-
ed in carrying plans into effect.
Program at the Cemetery.
A firing squad was detailed from
Company F and three volleys were
fired over the graves of the soldiers
lot, taps were sounded by the buglers
and the line of march was taken up
from the cemetery to the Masonic op-
era house where the remainder of the
program was carried out. 81,
Music by the Iowa Brigade Band.
Music by Quartette.
Invocation by Rev. A. M. Duboc.
Reading of Letter Order for Memor-
ial Day, Lincoln Memorial Address at
Gettysburg, by Post Adjutant Robert
Kissick
Introductory Address by Command
er A. D. Coleman, who officiated in
the capacity of officer of the day.
Music by Quartette.
Grafton of the Day.
The memorial address was deliver
ed by Rev. ]. c. w. Coke, and it was
at once one Of the most appropriate
and comprehensive efforts in this line
ever listened to by an Oskaloosa audi
ence, 1t seemed to be fitted to the
occasion in a peculiar manner that
claimed the closest of attention Of the
audience which almost completely
filed the opera house.
The speaker commenced by defin-
ing his position and explaining the
significance of Memorial day. the
question, why are we here?" was
answered by the orator in manner
that gave new meaning and fuller
understanding of the sacredness and
beauty of the day. 1t is a national
holiday, growing more in favor than
the Fourth of July, declared the
speaker. The Fourth has degenerat.
ed into a lot of noise and hilarity. 1t
is so far removed from the object oil
its observance that we are losing
sight of its real significance Not so
with Memorial day. The objects OF
this holiday are kept in the fore.
ground by the manner of observance,
and the day will be more and more
universally observed as the years
pass.
Passing on into his grafton, Rev
Coke told of the sacredness of the
day and he very clearly illustrated a
point in the recitation of a poem re,
lating to the meeting OF a couple OF
old companions, for Decoration day
service in marking the graves Of the
departed. Then the speaker entered
upon broader plane Of thought and
talked of this great country of ours
preserved in its greatness and its
beauty by those heroes whose deeds
and whose memory we commemorate
in the day. He discussed some OF the
evils of the day. paying particular at