Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-05-30
The Origin Of Memorial Day.

The Origin Of Memorial Day.
1t is meet to recall at this time. when
sectional feeling has given way to one of
brotherly kindness. that the nation really
owes it's Memorial day to the women of
the south.
Chauncey NJ. Depcw. in Decoration
| day address delivered in 1873. told of the
origin of the custom in these eloquent
| words:
| "When the war was over in the south,
| where. under warmer skies and with more
poetic temperament. symbols and en-
| blen,s are better understood than in the
practical north, mothers and children of
| tha confederate dead went out anu
strewcd their graves with flowers, and at
| many places the women scattered them
| impa~tially also over the unknown and
| unmarked resting places of the Union sol
| diers.
| 'As the news of this touching tribute
| fla shed over the north. it reused, as moth
ling else could have done. national
| amity and love. and allayed sectional ami
| mostly and passion. 1t thrilled every
| household where there was Il vacant chair
by the fircside and an aching void in the
heart for tn. lost hero whose remains
had never been found; old wounds broke
out ;lfresh. and in Il mingled tempest of
grief and joy the family cried: Maybe it
| was our darling!'ri
Thus out of sorrows common alike to
north and south came this beautiful GUS
tom. But Decoration day no longer be-
L MI. ic hn
| mon privilege of us all. and will be cele-
bratcd as long as gratitude exists and
| flowers bloom"
| 1t was just such impartial action on the
| part Of the women of Columbus. Miss.
| Immediately following the wars close.
| that inspired the poem known to every
| school child in the north: THE Blue and
the Gray" All. the many times the child
| ish mind has thrilled with the reading of
the healing verses in old Fourth Read
er."
''FrOm the silence of sorrowful hours
The dcSolate mOurners go.
Lovingly laden with flowers.
Alike for the friend and the foe
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting the Judgment day;
Under the roses, the blue:
Under the lilies, the gray.
| Three years later the first Decoration
day proclamation was issued by John A.
Logan, then commander of the
recently organized Grand Army of the Re
public.
| we should guard their graves Chose of
i the Union soldiers) with sacred vigil
| ance," the proclamation ran. "All that
the consecratcd wealth and taste of the
nation can add to their adornment and
security is but a fitting tribute to the
memory of her slain defenders
| Let no wanton foot tread rudely on
such hallowed grounds; let pleasant
paths invite the coming and going of re-
vercd visitors and fond mourncrs; let no
| vandalism or avarice neglect, no
ravages of time. testify to the present or
to the coming generations that we have
forgotten as a people the cost of a free
and undivided republic.
| 'If other eyes grow dull and other
| hands slack and other hearts cold in the
solcmn trust. ours shall keep it well as
| long as the light and the warmth Of life
remain in us.
1
remains and garland the passionless
mounds above them with the choicest
flowers of sprlngtimc: let rs raise
above them the dear old flag they saved
from dishonor: let us in this solemn pres
cncc renew our pledges to aid and assist
those whom they have left among us rs
"A sacred charge upon a nations gratitude
1.-The soldiers and sailors widow and or
phan.'
1arS seven years have passed since
this proclamation was issued. Union
veterans no longer Indignantly refuse to
strew the graves of the confederate dead
IN the north with blossoms, and the sur
wing men who wore the gray now vie
with tEclr wives and daughters in rever-
entity placing the roses of the south upon
,he iast resting places of ancient foe and
friend with equal impartiallty
Little did the tender hearted mothers of
'ne south think of the mighty fruit their
Hcloh would bear when. in the darkest
nays OF reconstruction. with hearts bleed
ing over their own losses and overfiowing
with compassion for their bereft sisters Of
'he north they scattered their garlands
aiike over the mounds of the blue and the
gray.
Sadiy. but not with upbraiding,
II" generous deed was done;
:" .iI storm OF the years that are fading,
No orave battle was won.
| MGer the sod and the dew,
W'ltlng the Judgment day;
WI1 ,he blossoms. the blue:
! '"''r inc garlands, the gray"