Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-22
DEDICATE SOLDIERS SHAFT
Eight Years Of Effort on Part Of Women
Crowned with Success
GRANITE MEMORIAL TO DEAD OF WAR
Fitting Ceremonies Mark the Occa-
sion and Addresses Made by Judge
Fawcett, Governor mickey
and Others.

A perfect day marked the impressive
ceremonies incident to the dedication and
unveiling of the handsome granite monu-
ment erected to the memory of the union
soldiers and sailors OF the civil war at
Forest Lawn cemetery Friday afternoon.
The monument occupies a commanding po-
sition on the crest of the hill Immediately
south Of the main entrance to the ceme-
terry. The members of the Grand Army
OF the Republic and old soldiers generally,
first assembled at the gateway and marched
in a body, numbering about 100, headed by
a fife and drum corps, to the soldiers plot,
where they formed in front of the plat
form which had been erected to the east
Of the monument, from which the ritual
services were carried out
On the platform were grouped DR.. S. X.
Spauding as commander and president Of
the day; T. ]. Creigh, Junior vice COM
mander; Mrs. Anna Yule, president of the
Monument association; Miss Clara Feenan,
secretary of the association; Governor
Mickey, Adjutant General Culver, Judge
Jacob Fawcett, orator of the day; Mrs.
Harriet Wilcox, department president Of
the Nebraska woman's Relief corps; Mrs.
Camilla Elliott, department president Of
the Ladies Of the Grand Army of the Re-
ment committee The platform was sur
rounded with palms and potted plants and
decorated with the national colors. The
monument was entwined with asparagus
fern and smilax, the statue at the top
being yelled with flag.
Music Opens Ceremonies.
The Elks' quartet. consisting Of c. r.
Miller, c. p Morearity, w. II. Brown and
T. F. Swift, who also occupied positions
on the platform, opened the ceremonies by
singing "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground"
A brief address by Mrs. Anna Yule. presi-
dent Of the Ladies' Union Veterans Monu-
ment Association of Douglas County, fol-
| lowed, in which she gave brief history OF
| the monument and, continuing, said to DR..
| s. X Spaulding, president of the day:
| This association was organized In 1897 for
| the purpose of erecting monument to the
! soldiers Of 1861 to 1865. 1t is not all of what
we hoped could be done, but we did what
we could. The war which It seeks to COM
memorate lasted four years and we have
| been eight years In trying to raise the
| means to erect this shaft. II is built In the
memory of the men who fought for the flag
and the men who died for the flag. What
these men did will live forever. Therefore,
/ Mr.. President. on behalf of our association,
I have the honor and pleasure to present
this monument to you as the representative
of the union soldiers in whose memory It
is erected"
Flag Drops from Figure.
When Mrs Yule had concluded her ad-
dress the monument which was veiled with
a large American flag, was unveiled by Miss
Emma Feenan. and the handsome shaft
stood forth in its grey-white beauty.
DR.. Spauldng said in response: I'm the
name of the union veterans Of Douglas
county l thank you and those whom you
represent for this memorial to men who
died for men. It's presence here will be the
stimulus for future patriotism"
Then followed the formal ritual of chaFg-
ing the representative of the Cemetery as
sociatlon to care for this shaft and lot
where reposed the dead soldiers and sailors
| of the union cause.
! T. F. Creigh, as the representative of the
Cemetery association. replied that such
care would be taken. He stated that ir
1899 the association had donated a plot OF
26 1853 square feet, sufficient for the buria
of 664 dead, and another plot had been sci
apart outside this circle for the exclusive
use of such soldiers who desired to pur'
chase burial lots adjacent to the larger
plot and under the shadow Of this monu
ment. A guard of honor was then ap
pointed consisting of II. w. Nicholson, A
J. Jurgens and w. r. Cameron, to TAX,
position near the monument. The flag wal
then hoisted to the top OF the fiagstaff anC
the Elks' quartet led of with singing 9TH,
Star Spangled Banner" in which the vet
Grams and visitors Joined with fervor. TIL,
ritual services were then continued with
prayer by Chaplain T. ]. Mackay and wer,
concluded with the announcement of tn,
dedication by President Spaulding, wit
again thanked Mrs. Yule for her efforts ant
those OF the monument association in pre-
senting this monument in the memory o
those who died for and in defense of tn,
flag.
Judge Fawcetts Address.
Judge Fawcett was then introduced AM
! spoke, in part, as follows:
Comrades and Ladies and Gentlemen: s.
much has been said in reference to tn
cause which occasions such this are de
signed to commemorate that there
e nothing new to say. But yet the sweetes
. ! stories are the old stories and the sweet
! est songs the old songs. The xiii and XC
Psalms have lost nothing OF their sweet
ness and beauty because they are old. TIL
songs Jesus, Lover of Ny Soul" ant
Nearer My God, to Thee we sing owe
and over again but their beauty does no
decay. Neither will the achievement 10