The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1905-06-01
DECORATION DAY

Another Decoration Day has passed
and its observance in this city was
never more satisfactory to all parties
interested. The fire department and
the G. A. R. appointed a joint COM
mittee, who worked earnestly and
intelligently in the preparations and
every detail was arranged 80 perfectly
that there was not a hitch from first
to last.
At 10 O'Clock a. m. the procession
was formed in front of the Grand
opera house under the direction of
Chief Marshall DR.. H. L. Lamb in
full uniform. The police force on
horseback proceeded, followed by the
band in their handsome uniforms;
then came the G. A. R. under COM
mand of Commander James A. Norris;
then in charge of Chief Geo. Fish
marched the fire department in their
new and becoming uniforms; follow
ing were the w. r. c., flower girls,
and large number of citizens in
carriages. The order of march was
down Main street to Third; down
Third street to Greenwood cemetery
where the G. A. R. ritual service was
conducted by Commander James A.
Norris, Chaplin David Cleveland, and
Officer of the Day, Sanford Smith.
The flower girls, under the direction
of Mrs. Chas. Brown, then decorated
the graves of the eighteen soldiers
buried there. The line of march was
again formed and when Oakland
cemetery was reached the same order
was carried out as at Greenwood
cemetery. At the close A. Fish and
Mr.. Shorrock sounded taps and thus
ended the impressive and solemn
ceremonies.
AS the participants slowly and
reverently returned to the city they
thought Of the four new-made soldiers
graves since last Decoration Day, and
wondered how many and whose will
be added to the number the coming
year.
At , p. n. the Grand opera house
was literally packed with people
anxious to witness the further services.
Scores were unable to find standing
room and were obliged to remain out
side. 1t is doubtful if on any previous
occasion more people were inside the
house.
Commander Norris had charge of
the exercises, which were announced
in the Herald of last week. The
recitation of Lincoln's Gettysburg
Speech by Miss Hattie Lockead, the
singing by the quartette, composed of
Miss Emma Johnson, Mrs. G. H.
Lewis, and Messrs. A. Fish and
M. Montgomery, and "Tenting on the
Old Camp Ground" by chorus of
firemen, were we'll received.
Rev. F. H. Oehler in his address
traced the hand of God in past epochs
in our national history, proving that
we had been brought to our present
influential position as government
for a high purpose, namely the ad-
vancement of civil and religious liberty
in the world. To accomplish this
purpose it was absolutely necessary
that we enforce and obey all the laws
which we place upon our statutes.
Rev. H. V. Adams pointed out the
beneficial and bright side of war.
War, looking at it on one side, is
terrible and cruel scourge; but it is
not all SO. There are some helpful
features to people in war. 1t teaches
unites people, and
developes courage. These points were
we'll presented and illustrated.
While all did their full share in
the day one long to be re-
we voice the opinion of
each participant 10 saying that the
band contributed large share towards
the pleasure of the observance. Our
citizens should appreciate the value to
the city of a first class band such as
We now have and encourage and assist
it in every possible way.