The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-05-26
MEMORIAL DAY ORDER.
Department Commander C.. F. Mac
donald lnstructs the G. A. r.

donald lnstructs the G. A. r.
From Thursdays Daily.
The following relative to Memorial
day has been issued by Department
Commander c. f. Macdonald
l. Comrades: Another year has pas
sed, and we are one more long march
nearer our last Camping Ground"
Many comrades who touched elbows
with us twelvemontn ago have fallen
by the wayside; their voices are silent
when the roll is called, and the places
which once knew them will know them
no more forever. They have joined the
great column of the "mustered out"
''On Fame's eternal camping ground,
Their silent tents are spreads;
And Glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead"
Memorial Day is drawing near. OF all
days in the calendar it is the one which
the Grand Army of the Republic most
sacredly observes. 1t has been set
apart and solemnly dedicated to the per-
petuation of the memory of our dead
comrades. On this day we assemble,
pay loving tribute to their loyalty, val
or and heroism, and strew upon their
graves springs choicest flowers, symbol
izing a nations reverence and undying
gratitude to its defenders and preserv-
ers.
2. On the thirtieth day of May all
posts in this department are required to
hold suitable exercises in honor of our
departed comrades; to visit the ceme-
teries and place upon the grave OF eacn
soldier there buried some flower of re-
membrance Over each little mound
should be placed the banner he fought
'under. "The Flag Without Stain"
g. All veterans of the Civil War,
whether members of our organization or
not; Spanish American war soldiers;
Sons of Veterans; members of the Wo-
mans Relief Corps; Ladies of the Grand
Army of the Republic; school children
and citizens generally, should be invited
to Join in the days observances.
4. Memorial Sunday May 2Sth
should be observed by the attendance of
posts in body at some church, where
memorial services may be heard and
services in honor of our dead partici-
pated in All churches should be re-
quested to hold suitable memorial serv-
YES on this day.
5. Posts are directed to make details
of comrades to visit the schools on some
day during the week previous to Memo
rial Day, and address the pupils. These
little talks, plain and simple as they
should be. will leave patriotic and last
ing impressions upon the minds of the
Young. School authorities should be re-
quested to prepare programs of exer-
cises.
g. All flags should be placed at half
mast on Memorial Day and Posts should
request mayors of cities and villages to
issue proclamations calling upon the
public to join in its observance.
7. General Order No. 6, National
Headquarters is enclosed. In it will be
found President. Lincoln's Gettysburg
address. BY direction of the Thirtieth
National Encampment it. should be read
at all Memorial Day exercises.
8. Enclosed is a circular from the De-
partment chaplain calling attention to
the great Importance of prompt reports
of post chaplains as to the observance
of Memorial Day. The department COM
mander calls special attention thereto,
and directs that the suggestions of the
department chaplain be carried out.
g. Post commanders and adjutants
should procure the publication in their
local papers of all or a portion of this
order for information of the public.
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