The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-05-18
Ceremonies Incident to Me-
mortal for Dead Soldiers.
ORDERS BY THE COMMANDER
Suggestions As to What Should Be
Done B the Posts On the
Grand Occasion.

st. Paul, May 1.-THE following is
the Memorial Day proclamation of gen
eral orders issued by Levi Longfellow
department command of the Grand
Army of the Republic of this state, to
the posts comprising the department:
l. Memorial Day, May 3Oth, the
sacred day of the Grand Army of the
Republic, is close at hand. It's observ-
ance is duty laid upon our order by
the rules and regulations, and the de-
partment commander therefore calls up
on every post in the state to begin at
once preparations for its fitting observ-
ance. 1t is sacred day to every surviv-
ing veteran of the civil war, and the
people of this great nation are in hearty
sympathy with us in honoring the mem
ory of all our comrades who have pass
ed into the mysteries of the vast be
yond, and are ready to assist us in
properly observing the day.
They expect us, however, to lead in
its observance, and, therefore, we should
without delay formulate our plans.
The assistance and cooperation of the
Woman's Relief Corps, the Ladies of the
G.. A. R., and the Sons of Veterans
should be sought for, and the children
of our schools should also be interested
especially in procuring the flowers neces-
sary. Active participation in these
Memorial day exercises. will prove an OBJ
iect lesson to them, which will make
them mindful of this day, when we shall
ourselves be sleeping beneath the sod.
Care should be taken, that the grave
of every soldier is marked with the flag
he defended with his life when it was
assailed, and that flowers are strewn up
on it on this Memorial day.
1t is very sweet, custom to strew
flowers upon the lakes and streams in
your vicinity in memory of the sailors
whose remains were left in the waters
where they fought, and this should not
be neglected.
H. President Lincoln's Gettysburg adj
dress. which has become classic in
American literature. should be read at
every Memorial service and post com
manders are directed to see that this is
DONE
Ill Sunday, May 81, will be observ-
ed as Memorial Sunday, and it is hoped
that every post will attend divine wor-
ship in some church. Pastors of churches
will be found not only willing but anX-
ious to prepare an address appropriate
for the occasion, and the congregation
will gladly welcome you to this SER
vice.
". 1t has become the custom fol
patriotic services to be held in all our
schools on some day previous to Me-
mortal day, usually the Friday before
There is no surer way of instilling pat
riotism into the minds of the coming
generation than this, and the depart
ment, commander directs that every
post see to it that comrades are detail
ed to thus attend the school,
Elaborate addresses are not expect
ed or desired. The simple recital of
some personal experience in the war will
interest and instruct.
V. 1t has been cutomary to display
all flags at half mast on Memorial Day
but at the national encampment held at
Denver, it was suggested by the com
mittee on rules and regulations that
they should be thus displayed until noon
and then full mast. This is in accord
with the rule observed on all T. S.
government buildings.
VI Enclosed will be found a blank
post chaplain's report together with a
return envelope. If post chaplains will
read this blank over and become ia
miliar with the questions to be answer
ed, and then make it out Immediately
they will find little difficulty in giving
to the department chaplain the informa-
ton required.
If the post has no chaplain, the COM
mander should see that either the ad
jutant or some other comrade does it,
and then forward it to these headquar-
tiers at once