Smyrna times., 1904-06-01
VETERANS OFFER TRIBUTE
TO THEIR DEAD COMRADES
IMPRESSIVE MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES OF
THE SMYRNA GRAND ARMY POST.
Visit All the Cemeteries and Fire the Custom.
ary Salute and Decorate the Graves with
FlOwers-TwO Patriotic Addresses.

Fewer in number and with step
more unsteady but in whose hearts
the fires of patriotism burned as
brightly as they did in the dark days
OF '61-'65, the members of Gen. W. S.
Hancock Post No. 30, of the Grand
Army of the Republic, Monday did
honor to their comrades who have an
swered the last roll call and haye gone
to that land where there are no more
battles to be fought. They were help
ed in this labor of love by many friends
who strew flowers upon the graves.
In honor of the day the schools and
banking houses were closed and near
ly all of the manufacturing industries
shut down for the day. In a few
more years the last of the gray haired
veterans whom we saw marching to
the various cemeteries will have an
swered the roll call and have gone to
join the great majority. But even
when they are no more they will not
be forgotten, as long as the nation
lasts. Grateful fellow, -,countrymen,
will take up the tasks of decorating
the graves, thereby showing that they
appreciated those heroes who went
forth to give their lives and preserve
our country-the greatest in the world, !,
Early Monday morning the blue.
Grand Army Veterans Meet at Post Room.
coated veterans, or men wearing that
little bronze button in the lapel Of the
coat could be seen vending their way
along the streets in the direction of
the post room, where they joined
their comrades and went to the various
cemeteries where rest the beloved
ones. The march began about nine
o'clock under command of John C.
Garner. The veterans were followed
with wagon load of school children,
who merrily sang patriotic airs and
waved miniature flags. At each ceme-
terry visited they strew garlands of
t0wers as a tribute to our nations he
roes. 1t was fitting and i'm pressive
picture. Many teams followed in the
rear literally loaded with flowers and
the graves that were not decorated by
friends and relatives were more the
exception. About all the cemeteries
were visited by the Army Veterans
and the customary salute fred over
the graves.
Two Stirring and Patriotic Addresses.
There we're two addresses given that
merited hearty applause; one by Rev.
Robert Watt, D. D., of'Asbury M. E.
Church, and the other by ths Rev.
Albert Chandler. The former ad-
dressed an audience of several hun
dred people at Odd Fellows Gene
terry, in which he dilated on the won
derful growth of our cemetery, our
magnificent institutions, and what we
owe to those who gave their lives to
preserve the land that we so much en-
Joy. The address was full of patriotic
fervor and his tribute to the Grand
Army men was beautiful in thought
and execution. Rev. Albert Chandler
gave his address before q large audi
ence at Glenwood Cemetery. He en-
phasized the thought that men who
lay down their lives for their country
can show no greater love for it, and
how fitting 1t was on this day OF the
year for those who enjoy the fruits of
their victory, to honor the memory of
those who fell in battle. He showed that
under certain circumstances war was a
necessity and strengthened his state
ments by reviewing some of the wars
of biblical times, the Revolutionary
War and the Civil Wars. The address
was full OF patriotism and much en-
joyed by his hearers.