The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-05-25
DECORATION DAY.
General Orders win be Observed by
phil Kssfnsy pcss.

~ - AtH'NN"r ~ - tNtNNNftM ~
fannpmenls for the proper observance
of Memorial nay on Tuesday. May 40,
1906. The exercises viii he held IN
Forest cemetery, Mayor John q. WI
llams will deliver an address, the re.
uai service o. Che O. A. r. viii be oh.
served, and the graves OF the soldier
dead win be strewn with flowers. The
fuil program Of the day will be issued
and published next week.
wllmon w. Blaclumar. ot Boston,
commanderi I'm. Chief OF the q. A. r.,
has issued an order directing the pro.
per observance OF Memorial Day,
Tuesday, May 30, 1905, by all Posts in
the United States, the following be.
Ing an extract from the order.
"Killed in yesterdays battle" "Dy.
ing in the field hospital" BADLY
wounded" wounded and in the
hands OF the enemy"
Forty odd years ago, my comrades,
we were thus accounting for the rosy.
checked, bright-eyed, manly boys.
darlings of their mothers, who with
the elastic step and merry laugh OF
youth marched by u sides as we
babe goodbye to our homes and dear
ones and answered "Here am l." to
the call OF country, and cheered the
sad heart OF our God-given Lincoln
with the refrain, 1--WE are coming
Father Abraham, three hundred thou.
sand strong"
Recall today the hastily delivered
message and token from these dying
boys as you grlmly continued the
charge over their bodies or. as you
sullenly ~retreated, most reluctantly
leaving them on the field. You have
sacredly kept the promise hastily CIV.
en- to your dying messmate: Yves,
Jack, III tell your mother" sure,
Joe, your wife shall get your ring and
message" Never doubt, Charlie, your
people shall know what a brave sol.
der you were, how pluckily you died
10 save our colors."
As you moved carefully among the
dead and dying over the battle field
after the fight was over; as you walk.
ed through the rude field hospital
hopelessly searching for the comrade
you saw fall, but could not stop to
help, the dear boy who had been your
playmate at school, and TO the appeal
OF whose weeping old mother as you
marched away you had tossed back
the cheering welLmeant promise, "T1l
take care OF Billy" AS you steadfed
Yourself, and helped TO bear across
the deck Of the battleship to the cock
pit, slippery with the llfe.blood OF
your shipmates, the body OF the sailor
boy with whom you had left home TO
ship In your country's service,
Did you not promise the dying and
God for the dead, that your comrades
and their supreme sacrifice never
should be forgotten, that their depend.
ent mes should be tenderly and fully
cared for? Have you kept that sacred
promise? Our glorious Grand Army OF
the Republic has helped you TO keep
II. II has collected and helpfuliy dis.
bursed In relief millions OF dollars. 1t
has made possible, kept alive and
cherished the sacred memories and
friendships Of the war. II has estab.
lished, by the order OF one of my hon.
ored predecessors, COMMANDMENT.
Chief Logan, and given TO the world
Memorial Day on which day you an.
nually redeem your promise TO keep
green the memory Of your comrades
by decorating their graves with the
fairest flowers Of spring, or casting
them upon the sea or the rivers which
flow from the mountains to mingle
with its waters, which are the sail.
ors' winding sheet, and by securing
the services Of your most eloquent
and gifted speakers to recount their
deeds Of self.sacri6cing devotion that
our country might not be d~lsgraced,
dismembered and destroyed, but
might live as a nation, the grandest