The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-06-02
MEMORIAL DAY
Splendid Weather, and u Large
Crowd Attended the Exercises
Governor ElrOd Makes q Fine
Address

patriotic mood this year for the me-
mortal celebration, handing out one of
the choicest days of the calendar. A
nice rain had fallen the day before, so
that there was no dust flying, and the
bright sun and balmy air, without
annoying wind, gave us one of those
ideal days that can only be enjoyed in
South DakOta-and even here only
when our lady smiles her prettiest.
But she did that last Tuesday, and
our farmer friends from all directions
came in to enjoy the day in great
numbers, SO that it is pretty generally
conceded that the crowd of visitors
was larger than on any previous Dec
Grafton day. The line of march con-
sisisted of the Citizens Concert Band,
Gen. Humphreys Post G. A. r. and
old soldiers, Gov. Elrod and mayor
and city council in carriages and
members of the Woodmen degree team
and lodge, and citizens in carriages.
The procession marched down Main
street and to the cemetery, where q
program of exercises was followed.
In addition to the customary cere-
monies of decorating the graves of
the deceased soldiers, was the dedicat-
| ing of q rustic vase, which had been
erected near the entrance OF the ceme-
terry by the Woman's Relief Corps,
in memory of the unknown dead, F"
who sleep in the numberless battle
fields of the south and in the national
cemeteries. The officers of the Relief
Corps conducted this service in very
appropriate and pleasing manner,
with the ceremonies arranged by the
order for occasions of this character,
the vase being filed with beautiful
boquets of flowers, and the officers
depositing others as their parts were
recited. The services were preceded
by band music and Decoration day
song by q chorus of singers. and was
followed by an address by Mayor
Bouck, and the reading of Memorial
day poem by Mrs. A. M. Talcott, q
member of the corps.
| The vase was made by D. w. Rap
alec, of Sioux City, and is of Indiana
limestone, carved in rustic figures,
and inscribed on the base of one side,
ssTo the Unknown Dead-1861-1865, :"
and on the opposite side, "Erectrd by
the w. r. c." The vase stands four
feet high, the upper part being about
20 inches square, and is altogether q
pretty piece of stone work.
| At the courthouse park at 2 O'Clock
the memorial exercises were continued.
The special music furnished by Prof.
Burgan and his choir was very ap-
propriate and was much appreciated
by all.
Gov. Elrod was introduced, and
delivered the memorial speech. He
said: "Fellow Citizens: It always
gives me great pleasure to be able to
pay tribute to the glorious soldier
dead. This great day should be held
sacred by all. Right here let me say
that there is perhaps one thing on
which we may not agree, and yet |
will speak of i'll do not believe in
the idea of having baseball game or
other sports on Memorial day. It Is
wrong. Memorial day is the day we
should set aside to decorate the graves
of loved ones gone before us. 1t is
the day that is set aside to remember
the glorious deeds and fighting of the
| brave boys of 1776 and of 1861-1065.
All honor to them. The ranks of the
G. A. r. are fast being thinned. Soon
they will an nswer their last roll call.
But will they be dead? Are the heroes
Of 1776 dead? Will the heroes of 1875
be dead? No! Their memories will
90 down into history and on and
on, for gon0r alton after generation.
Their brave acts will never die. They
saved the country they loved from
ruin-and their fame will never die. !"
The governor spoke of the rapid
advance the young state of South
Dakota had made in the last few
years. How at Vermillion forty years
ago . small log schoolhouse, the first
schoolhouse in the state, had been
built, and that now near it stood .
university, one Of the best in the
country. That today the little white
schoolhouses dotted our prairies pro-
fasely. South Dakota was destined
to become one of the main states Of
the northwest; that its rapid pace for
ward had never been equaled in
history.
Gov, Elrod did not make long
speech, but he impressed his audience
with every word he spoke. It was an
address which will long be remem-
bered by those who heard it.
| A game of baseball between local
mines Was played In the afternoon.
! and in the evening theatrical per-
form anNa waa 0{vor nv lnCal ta1ont