The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1905-06-14
A Boys Memorial Day.

Archie II, Hillard, son of Rev. j, e..
Hillard, is the "man The road" for the
Ridgwsy Daily Record, and, like his
genial father, having penchant for writ
ing, many a good thing from his pen
finds its way into his paper The late
memorial cere onies reminded Archie
of his boyhood days, when living with
his parents at East Hickory, and he puts
his impressions on paper as follows;
"There arose picture OF a parade in
sharp contrast TO the one Just passing on
Main street. In the quiet country village
of East Hickory, in Forest county, along
Hickory Creek, short distance from the
Allegheny River, Memorial Day was, and
is yet, All Event. Weeks beforehand.
boys and girls, women and men, young,
middle-aged and old, were preparing for
its observance in a hundred different
ways. The G. A. Il. had charge of the
services, which consisted of the usual
speeches and songs. The recitations and
the songs must be committed and called
for some attention. Proud were the boys
and girls who we're allowed to participate
in the days 'xercises and their "pieces"
were at their tongues end Tor days pre-
vious. Then it would not be Decoration
Day without the brilliant honeysuckle
and the beautiful May apple blossoms,
those old stand-bys of the decorator.
Many weIe the rsmbles over the hillsides
on the preceding days for these, Natures
Offering to her brave children. How
carefully find" was kept secret, Anx-
iously the flowers were watched, for they
might come TOO soon and be gone ere the
Day; or again they might tardily open
after the Event. Words fail to tell the
feelings of the boy who, to the envy of
the other boys, succeeded in handing his
gorgeous bunch of honey suckles or
freighted basket of the dainty, saucer
shaped May apple flowers over to the
bustling matron in charge. Wreaths
there were in abundance, and boquets for
the old veterans, made of garden flowers
| by loving hands and fingers. The picnic
(for there always was one-and it did not
remove the rightful thoughts of the day.
must be duly considered to see whether
| it required chocolate cake or DEVILS food,
apple pie or turnovers, for all these had
their place and attention. But through
all this hustle and preparation, the idea
that it was in honor of our dead heroes,
of whom there were many in the ceme-
terry on the fiat above the town, was not
lost sight of and thoughtful, serious,
and attentive audience gathered in the
church on the hill overlooking the town
or in the pleasant grove just behind the
church, TO listen to the exercises. 1t was
all native to the place. The effort of each
performer was our own. His success
,, was our own success and we roundly ap-
| plauded ourselves after each act.
The Memorial Grafton, generally by
the pastor OF the church, was the part that
thrilled us, and as he described the brav-
cry of the Grand Old Soldier, who in pri-
yations and perils had given his life for
us, and pointed to the few remaining
Veterans seated in places of honor on the
stage around him, telling in few words
the grand story of their deeds, we locke ed
on them with new awe. We had heard
the story before, but each year, as the
band decreased, the story became desrer
to us and no words could be too strong
in praise of them. A huge lump always
came in my throat at that part of the
exercise and strange, indefinable feel
ing so pervaded my being, that even the
pie and chicken in our immense lunch
hamper could not eradicate.
"Then the parade. We had no large
number OF lodges to present an artistic
appearance, but the audience consti-
tuted the procession to the cemetery. 1t
is not the parade so much that l remem-
ber as the Old Martial Band. What so
dear to my heart as its memory! What
| so sweet on my ear as its music! Without
it, Decoration Day would haYe been noth-
ing, even though Sousa himself had sup
piled the vacancy. Looking back over
the parade you could locate it by the
thanking party of boys on either side. We
loved and reverenced it next to. and, l
am afraid sometimes, even ahead of the
old soldiers. What though it had but
two tunes and variation of a third, and
every boy in either wing of its body
guard was whistlIng note for note, the
selection under way. We had heard them
year after year and with each repetition
they sank deeper into our life and love.
What though the ii les' shrill note was at
one time unduly loud or again so weak
that the drums steady beat nearly
drowned it out! We knew the tune and
could follow without a leader. l have
met boyhood friends in the worlds broad
field of battle, far from the old home and
with one bar of the familiar tunes aroused
sentiments that will never be wholly for
gotten. Then followed the sincere words
of the G. A. r. in sorrow for comrades at
the grave side, the placing of flags and
wreaths and flowers on The mounds and
the firing of guns and then-the picnic.
Sometimes it was a basket picnic and
sometimes long tables fairly groaned un-
der the loads they supported. With
| bowed heads we heard grace asked by
the pastor and then-supply the rest for
yourself.
"They say that "Distance lends en-