The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-30
MEMORIAL DAY
OBSERVED HERE
Graves of Soldier Dead Are
Decked With Flowers and
Flags.
Parade and Mass Meeting in
Auditorium Features Of the
Afternoon.

Minneapolis to-day paid loving trib-
ute to the soldier dead.
Commercial life generally was sus-
pended, all business establishments
being closed that all not otherwise pre-
vented might aid in fitting observance
of Memorial Day.
People generally visited the ceme-
teries in the forenoon. There also
trooped thousands Of school children,
all laden with flowers with which the
graves Of departed soldiers were beau
tilted. The distribution of floral trib-
utes to the dead was in charge Of a
special delegation Of veterans of the
G.. A. r. at each of the cemeteries.
This afternoon was devoted to the
parade, followed by the exercises at
the International Auditorium, where
John Day Smith was the orator. The
various organizations, military and
civic, which participated in the parade
began to form on the streets in their
respective divisions shortly after
o'clock. The chief marshal and his
staff used the West hotel for head
quarters while the work of organizing
the procession was going on The pa
rade was one Of the largest ever as
sembled in Minneapolis on a Memorial
Day. One of the unique and modern
Natures was the accommodation of
G. A. r. veterans physically unable to
march, In automobiles instead of in
carriages as has been the usuage in
like parades Of days gone by.
The procession started at Tenth and
Nicollet, marching down Nicollet
across the steel bridge and on to Sec
ond street Sc. There the turn was
made at Bank street permitting
the marchers to proceed into the
International Auditorium.
The parade was made up Of eight
divisions The first division was COM
posed of the naarshals and aides and
the Minneapolis companies of the
state guard. The second division was
made up of the various posts Of the
G.. A. r. In the third division were
the veterans in automobiles, city Of
acials and the orator of the day. The
Army of the Philippines, Spanish War
Veterans and Minneapolis Flambeau
club were included in division four.
The fifth division was composed
and clerks Of the Minneapolis post
office. headed by the Journal News
boys band. The remaining divisions
were made UP Of the many fraternal
organizations of the city, mostly in
uniform.
It was considerably after the des-
tgnated hour of 2 o'clock when the
auditorium, and the exercises were
opened by Comrade s. M. Finch,
chairman Of the general committee.
National airs were played by the
Maccabee band while the multitude
were securing seats. The reveille was
then sounded by Bugler S. W., Dunn
and was followed with prayer by Rev.
Frank Peterson. A selection, Nov
Rests the Sea-" was sung by the Min
nesota quartet. Comrade A. A. G..
Orion S. Clark then read Lincoln s
Gettysburg address.
memorial Of flowers to all de-
tenders Of the union followed, con-
sitting Of the unwilling of a beautiful
floral tribute. This was accompanied
by a recitation, "Fame's Eternal
Camping Ground" by Stanley g. Har-
| wood; the singing of a selection
"Cover Them Over by the Minnesota
quartet, and "taps" by bugler.
After the singing Of the "Star-.
| Spangled Banner by the audience
John Day Smith, the orator Of, the
occasion, was introduced.