Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-31

Memorial day dawned bright and sun
ny, and the weather bid fair for the OBJ
servance of the day set apart for the
perpetuation of the memory Of the
dead. In the forenoon hours, deIega-
lions from Heath Post, G. A. r., visit
ed the following cemeteries: High
street. South Gardiner. Libby hill and
F'armingda!e. visiting g graves of the
solder dead. Over their sleeping COM
radcs the veterans laid wreaths and
flowers.
In the afternoon. promptly at l
O'Clock the Gardiner B:,nd appeared on
Water street for the first time this
year. Leader Radcliffe had about %
must 'ans in line, and the band aquit-
ted itself very creditably. The band
,naEched to the militia armory where it
met Co. a. ID Regiment, n. G. S. NJ,
and the body moved up main avenue.
through Water street to the G. A. r.
hall on Brunswick avenue where the
procession including the veterans. was
formed. and the march TO the johnson
Opera house taken up.
At 100 o'clock. in the Opera house the
Memorial exercises were opened by a
prayer by Rev. l.. II. Clarke pastor Of
the First Baptist church. Hon. Charles
4. Knight, mayor of Gardiner. briefly
addressed the gathering. laying high
tribute to the departed comrades who
laid down their life for the country. In
closing, His Honor introduced Hon.
James NJ. Larrabee. the orator of the
day.
The Grafton by Judge I.arrabee was
listened to with greatest interest by the
large audience and it was accorded to
he one Of the most powerful that has
been delivered on Memorial day here in
years. Judge Larrabae is comrade of
Heath Post and for this reason his
words found warm reception in the
hearts Oc his auditOrs-the men with
when he had fought with shoulder to
shoulder in the days Of 'G1. The eXer-
ciscs concluded with The singing of the
national hymn, America" by the au-
diencc and Rev. Mr.. Clark pronounc ID
the benediction.
The exercises were of brief duration
and shortly after 5 o'clock the line of
march was taken up. and the entire
body march to Oak Grove cemetery.
The line of march was through Water
to Vine to School to Lincoln avenue to
the cemetery. The parade was headed
by Chief of Police F. e. Andrews and a
platoon of uniformed police. Following
this escort marched the Gardiner Band
with q baton twirlor at It's head. Next
in line marched Co. A, National Guard,
under command of Lieut.. John J. Nc
Kerna. Next marched the members of
Heath Post. G. A. r.. bearing wreaths
and bouquets of flowers and the MEM
bers of Calvin Boston Command, u. v.
L. A line Of carriages followed at the
end Of the parade bearing flowers and
the members of the city government in
Guiding the mayor, Judge Larrabee and
the aldermen.
At Oak Grove. the Post decorated
about 40 graves, several being in the
Catholic cemetery adjoining. The pro-
Cession moved from the cemetery down
Plummer street, through Brunswick
avenue to the Soldiers monument on
The common. where brief exercises were
held and the monument was decorated
with flowers and American flags The
procession then proceeded to G. A. r.
kah, Brunswick avenue where the
parade was reviewed and dismissed.
Altogether, Heath Post decorated 2i1
graves. yesterday. one Of them being in
the old Christ Church burying ground.
The Ladies Relief Corps. auxiliary to
Heath Post, was prominent in the par
ttcipation in the exercises and it was
due to its members that the supply of
wreaths and flowers was so abundant
this year. The corps had entire charge
| Of the making of the wreaths and many
other features of the day were due to
their efforts