Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-06-07
Imposing Ceremonies Memorial
Day in Lexington

u
were held in the chapel of Wash
ington and Lee University and
the scene was an inspiring one
The platform was decorated with
palms, laurel, cut flowers and Con.
federate flags. Over the central
arch leading to the Lee mausoleum
was the coat of arms of Washing
} and Lee.
On the platform we're seated
the speaker, State Senator Don
P. Halsey of Lynchburg Comman.
der j. Preston Moore of Lee-Jack-
son Camp, Confederate Veterans ;
Mr.. NJ. w. Paxton. Commandant
of Camp Frank Paxton, Sons of
Confederates; Rev. DR.. r. j. Nc
Bryde, Mr.. w. G. Mcdowell and
members of Mary GUSTS Lee
Chapter, Daughters of the Con-
federacy of Lexington and several
visiting Daughters from Buena
Vista.
Following the address Crosses
of Honor were presented TO ITO
veterans of Lee-Jackson Camp and
to 20 members of Blue Ridge
| Camp, Confederate Veterans of
Buena Vista.
The exercises opened at IL
o'clock with the solg "Tenting
on the Old Camp Grounds" Pray
err was offered by DR.. McBryde.
The other songs used were "Our
God, Our Help in Ages Past;"
"Cover Them Over with Beautiful
Flowers" and "Auld Lang Syne. "
The special choir was composed
of Mrs. S. B. Walker, Jr., Miss
Sallie Preston, Miss Nellie Gibbs,
Mr.. NJ. w. Sheafe and Mayor S.
B. Walker, Jr. Mrs. A. d. Estill
presided at the organ.
Capt. ]. Preston Moore presided
at the opening exercises, then
gave way to Mr.. NJ. w. Paxton,
who introduced Senator Halsey.
The address was an eloquent tri-
butte to the Confederate soldier
who barred his breast in defense of
the cause be believed to be just,
and his tribute to the women of
the South, who by their self-sacri-
fcing example made possible the
undaunted courage of the men,
was no less eloquent and de-
serving.
At the conclusion of the address
the Crosses of Honor were pre-.
sented. Mr.. w. G. Mcdowell
read the conditions under which
these honors we're awarded and
the following committee of the
Daughters of the Jonfederacy
pinned the crosses on the old sold
iers Mrs. A. D. Estill, Mrs. R.
]. McBryde, Mrs. LeConte Steph-
ems, Misses Mary Moore, Mary
Smith, Anna Anderson, Mary
Barclay, Mary Houston, Nettle
Houston and Mary Nelson Pendle-
ton.
The names of the old soldiers
were called in blocks of ten and as
the veterans marched up it was in
deed pathetic scene to witness
the comforting of these badges of
honor. Some of the recipients
tottered to the platform with the
weight of years, others carried
empty sleeves and not few bore
on their bodies the scars of battle.
The crosses are of bronze. On
the front side are the words
"United Daughters of the Con-
fedarcy to the U. c. "" In the
center is Confederate battle flag,
surrounded by a wreath of laurel.
The name Of the recipient is in
scribed on the bar. On the re-
verse size is the inscription "SOuth-
ern Cross of Honor" and in the
center surrounded by wreath are
the words; "Deo vindice, 1891
1885"
The services concluded at the |
chapel, a procession was formed
which marched to the cemetery in
the following order: Policemen
Lakewood and Walker mounted ; |
Chief Marshal w. B. F. Lsech |
and his aids, Col. J. A. Gibson,
Capt. S. W. Paxton, Capt. w. F.
Pierson, Messrs.P. l. Huffman, j.
B. Poindexter, j. A. Mcneil, J. j.
Moore and j. M. Johnston. The
marshals from the Sons of Con-
federates were Messrs. w. Morton
McNutt, J. Clinton Warner, Mark |
Hattop, Jr., 0, Burgess Whitmore,
Chas. B, Leech and Daniel Welsh,
The Virginia Military Institute
band came next, followed by the
battalion of cadets; then the Lex
ington Fire Department in uni
form, with their reels and hook
and ladder trucks decorated with
flowers; Sabbath school children,
Confederate Veterans and Sons of
ConfedeEates.
The procession was a long one
and the streets were lined With |
spectators. The crowd was the
largest ever seen on a similar occa-
sion. This is supposed to be due
the fact that the exercises were
held in the morning, thus allow
ing many country persons to at
tend and return home before night.
At the cemetery the graves of
Confederates had been designated
by Confederate flags and on these
grassy mounds were placed by low
iny anda tha awank hOWpFq of