Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY.
Its Observance by Seth
Williams Post, G. A. R.
Graves Of the Fallen Comrades
Beautifully Decorated.


colors displayed them from their resi-
dences or places of business. Seth Will
liams Post, G. A. r. observed the day
according to the program previously
printed. In the morning, detachments
Of the veterans visited the various
cemeteries of the city, and placed APP
propriate decorations uron the graves
of their departed comrades. Lunch was
provided for these 1e,achments at G.
A. r. hall.
In the afternoon, the veterans reas-
sembled. and at O'clock the parade
was formed On Water street near the
square, in the following order:
City Marshal Breen and Platoon of Police.
A S. Bangs. Marshal of the Day.
Jas. A. Jones, Assistant Ad jutant General.
Jas. W. Hapson, Chief of Staff
Herbert Mccoy, s. of V. Guidon.
+. S. Rand. Co. NJ, I'd Rcgt., Bugler.
Clarence NJ. Cram. S. V. c.. Me. Div.
Percy R. Norcross: King Co. No. 4, u r..
Robert B. Morton. +. G. Staples Camp.
Royal Small, Spanish War Veterans.
John r. Hopkins. S. of ". Orderly.
Lafayette Band, John Martin, leader.
Co. NJ, I'd Infantry. Blaine Owen. Cap
King Co. No. 4. U. r.. X OF F.. L. NJ
Ware: Captain Commanding.
Walter w. Poor Camp, Spanish War Vet
Grams, Dana w. Lovejoy. Commander.
Henry G. Staples Camp Sons of Veterans.
Oriin Kicker, Capt. Commanding:
Seth Williams Post, No. T. q. A. r., Levi
NJ. Poor. Commander.
Disabled Soldiers in Carriages.
Orator and President of the Day.
Ex-Governor Selden Conner.
Clergy and Citizens.
The parade proceeded up Water
street to Bridge, up Bridge street to
State, down State street to Monument
park where a crowd of citizens had as
sembled to witness the ceremonies. The
regular services according to the G. A.
r. ritual were read by the officers Of the
Post. and Divine blessing invoked by
the Rev. E. G. Spencer. At the cOnclu-
sion of the ceremonies the parade was
reformed. and the march taken up to
Post headquarters where ii was dis
missed.
In the evening the Post again assem-
bled and marched to City hall, where
the Memorial day address was delivered
to large audience of citizens. The
meeting was presided over by Mayor
Hichborn, who in fitting speech intro
duced the orator of the evening, Hon.
Leslie c. Cornish Of this city. Mr.. Cor
nish spoke as follows:
Members of the Grand Army of the
Republic,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
For your kind invitation to speak to
you this evening l would render most
appreciative thanks. 1t is an honor to
stand before gathering of the Grand
Army of the Republic on Memorial
Day and to speak the word that is
struggling for expression in every pa
triotic heart, and yet 1 am not I'M
wise enough to think that any word
of mine can add to or subtract
from the part that you played more
than forty years ago in the greatest
struggle of the Century. That part the
country will "long remember"
On the 18th of March, 1866, the youth
full daughter of Confederate soldier
was gathering wild flowers and plac-
ing them on the graves of the unknown
Confederate dead in Linwood Gene
terry at Columbus, Mississippi. "And
a little child shall lead them" Out of
that simple loving act grew the Memo
rial Day Of the South, and two
years later Decoration Day was insti- |
tuted at the North, at the suggestion
of a comrade and by order of Gen. LO-
gan, then Commander in Chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic. In time,
however, this too was more fittingi
named Memorial Day. and now both
sections that for four long years strug-
gled for supremacy. set apart one day in
the springtime for this beautiful observ-
-, IT, fn nd sy, cy,tr
Nations Easter, that marks the roll
ing away Of the stone of slavery from
the sepulcher and the resurrection and i
Immortality of freedom. justice and
equal rights.
You will pardon me, II I regard it As
a day conSecrated to patriotism and to
patriotic memories and refrain from
discussing what to many seem the
startling and obtrusive perils OF the
present. The ve~y associations force
me into the past. Think Of what this
day has witnessed all through the
Northland From the eastern border of
our beloved State to the Golden
Gate. from the Great Lakes to Mason |
and Dixon's line, and little farther
south each year as the barrier OF preJu- |
dice gradually recedes, in city and
village and hamlet the same tender |
have been performed as
here in our own home, and tonight the
stars above look down on those other |
stars which you fought to preserve IN |
tact, floating above thousands upon
of patriotic graves, graves
of the Revolution, of the War of 1S12,
of the Mexican War. the war OF the Re-
bellior and the war with Spain. Inc
grandeur as we'll as the pathos of that
nicture. a nation standing uncovered at |
the bier of it's defenders, may with pro- |
priety compel us to omit for the time
the discussion Of the political and So
cial perils of the present, and to ask
what it is that these men did that mer- |
it's such a tribute.
Other days and other occasions may |
well he devoted to the discussion and |
the solution of the grave problems that
confront us now. Enough for this day |
If we call to mind the problems that