The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-30


United States Army was then intro
duced and spoke in part as follows:
"Sires and sons mingle together today
to mark the tombs of brave men who
fell. and who. falling. gave momentum
to the onward movement of civilization
In the later of the two struggles, the
men of the South land joined their
brothers of the North, when diplomacy
had failed and the aEbitrament of arms
became the one resource of an outraged
sentiment, and In the same garb and
under the same flag. they taught the
world that the dark ages belong to the
past tense. and that these are the years
of our Lord and of liberty.
We have gathered today 10 do honor
10 all OF them; we who knew them and
loved them, and called them by name,
and we who shared their mission OF
hardship and high resolve, and we who
could not be with them, but who are
patriots enough TO prize their sacrifice
and their triumph.
Flags for Graves.
I'VE have brought flags for their
graves, because we could find no better
emblem. Nothing else was so dear to
them. Everywhere they went the flag
went. too. And when it fell, that mo-
ment marked the death of a soldier and
the pressing forward of another to
How much IL meant 70 them 40 man can
know who has not taken it out TO die
for. If need be.
I'VE see them in It. Their blood is in
Its stripes, and It gives them freshness
and richness and Immortality. The field
is truer blue because OF the loyalty of
the hearts which gave their last throb
In its defense. The white of it's stripes
is purer because the holiness of their
generation for II has baptized It with
light
7'Ail these colors are ideals for the
people, but they are also everything in
carnations of those who died for It and
now live in it.
III we could catch from out the un-
seen world the familiar accent of the
voices now long silent. 1 think we
should hear some word Of satisfaction
that we have brought 20 their graves
the soldiers immortelle
But we have come with flowers. too
these gospels In the grass, that proclaim
aIresh IN every springtime the reveille
Of nature, and that preach to us that
NE is, where death seems to be. Law
them tenderly upon the graves They
are pledges Of your love Let them
rest on your hearts. as well, for they are
emblems of life
Immortality is in their perfume and
IN their poise, as they burst the sod and
stand erect and open their petals TO
smile back again at God. whose minis
tiers they are.
A Rich Heritage.
1t is Memorial Day. and we have.
from the sacrifices of the brave men.
living and dead, who have left US so
much of martial glory and honor to
dwell upon, a heritage that makes the
nation rich and grand
We shall not forget them. No ma
ton IN the world is 50 true 10 the mem
more TO do than to Indulge i'm RENT
niscences, or even TO leap out in glad
hope OF a coming muster when they
and We shall stand again in line and
answer, Here to the Great Captains
voice The present is ours. and the
problems Of our common victory
In sacred nearness 10 their silent
forms let US pledge anew "A stubborn
faith IN the republic: let US give our
word that no star in the flag shall ever
be lost or be dimmed; that the tradi-
tons of the fathers shall lie the creed
OF their children; that war shall only
come when honor is its guardian angel; :
and that, cost what II may, we shall
solve the problems that have been left
US. TO the satisfaction of our bro -hers
in the Great Beyond and the glory Of
our Father God"
The benediction was pronounced by
chaplain y. II. Miller. The program
was concluded with taps sounded by the
chief trumpeter of the cavalry band.
Flowers on Graves.
During the morning and while the SER
vices were in progress, the committees
were busily engaged in strewing the
graves with flowers. and sweet-scented
blossoms and garlands Of green. and
placing small flag Ut the head Of each
mound. Not a grave was overlooked.
not tven those Of the 200 Confederates
whose resting place is, IN remote sec
ton OF the National Cemetery. No mora
striking evidence Of the sOftening Of
sectional animOsity could have been ex-
=
rams. who long since stacked their guns,
laid fragrant blossoms upon the burial
places OF those whom they had fought
IL life, and who have gone on 10 Join
that greatest army which knows not
war or strife, but eternal peace and
happiness.
on either side Of the main road
through the cemetery with those who
commanded and led on one side. and
those who obeyed and followed upon the
other, those whose graves are marked
with imposing shaf1s of marble. and
bronze and granite. to the right. and
those whose resting places are indicated
only by a simple slab bearing the name
OF the soldier and his regiment, to the
left kind hands moved by loving hearts
cherishihg fond memories scattered
alike their flowers, unmindful in the be-
stowal Of their tributes. of the rank and
grade held by the departed ones.
War With Spain.
In one section of the cemetery lie
the remains Of those who fought IN the
most recent. of our wars, the brief but
important struggle with Spain. sleeping
almost side by side with those who
fought and fell in the greater conflict
Tor the preservation Of the Union, and
upon the green mounds above these a
profusiOn of flowers. were spread. per-
haps because u is as only yesterday
that they passed away, and a greater
circle Of their friends and mOurners yet
remain TO do them honor
When IL was all over and every sol
der and sailor, the nameless and the
known. whose mortal remains rest be-
meath the sods of Arlington had been
remembered by the bestowal Of a flag
a blossom and a spray OF green upon
his tomb, the crowd Of mcurners slowly
and sorrowfully departed. Many a one
fingered until the sun was far ad-
vanced upon its western course and
the long shadows began 10 stretch out
into darkness. before they reluctantly
retraced their steps and left the dead
until another Memorial Day shall roll
around and again will flowers be be
slowed. perhaps by other hands, upon
an increased number Of graves
TO GIVE LIFE FOR COUNTRY
THE GREATEST ShHRIEIHE