The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-10
ADDRESS OF TANNER
COMMANDER-IN-CH OF THE G.
 A. R.
Annual Announcement to Posts fin Re- gard to the Celebration of MemoraI Day May 30-Or-
 der No. q.

Washington, April 9.-Commander- in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Re- public today issued his annual address to all Grand Army posts regarding the exercises to be conducted May 30, Memoral Day. In general order No. T, on this subject he says.
 "On the eve of my departure to the southern. western and pacific coast de- partments. I am reminded of the early approach of the day sacred to all com rades of the Grand Army of the Re- public. We have been observing this day ever since our beloved Logan in- stituted it in 1888. This year my com Iades, we are crossing the broad river at the rate of five thousand a month, sixty thousand a year. Soon the great majority will be sleeping their last sleep and it Yis our privilege now as 1t has been for so many years. to pay loving tributes to their memory by decorating their graves with flowers.
 T am performing my solemn duty when I ask all to assist in this loving service. Upon department and post comrades the duty rests of attending to the fitting observance of Memoral Day, which this year will fall on Wednesday, May 30 Welcome all auxiliary and al- lied organizations, encourage school children to attend and assist and secure speakers who will teach the lessons> of patriotism for which our comrades gave the last full measure of devotion.
 Thirty years ago when I was de- partment commander of New York, in a Memoral Day order I then issued. l suggested to the comrades of New York that wherever from Montauk Point to Buffalo any Confederate soldier had found sepulchre among us trusted that when we went out to laurel the graves 1e that American manhood would not prevent us passing by the graves of our form CT opponents without dropping thereon some floral rememberance. Not l said, fin honor of their cause, for that we opposed. fought and conquered. but because we who met them on the field of battle, knew that braver men or better soldiers have not been known since men were first marshaled in battle array
 ITO the order at large I now confi- dently make the same suggestion.
 We have returned the battle stand ards of the dead Confederacy to those who treasure them as sacred memen- toes of the loved ones who died under them. The Congress Of the United $2OO,O0 to care for the graves of those dead and the heart of the nation has said with great unanimity, It Is we'll "Unitedly we march along the high way or ndIlOnSs ToSeS DlOSSOHlHB ONSI and around and the birds nesting in the mouths of the cannon that once roared defiance and death at each other. the world applauding, our con- science approving.
 'If mothers of the South still sit like Rachael of old. weeping for their children and refusing to be comforted let the news go down to them that oiI our most sacred day we feel 1t priv ilege to stand In the pl9ce of their far distant kinsmen and lovingly mark their last resting place with Gods sweetest emblem of peace, flowers.
 The old flag has been rebaptized since 1865 with the blood of the North and South alike, and the ship of state Is securely anchored for all time"
 The order closes with a quotation of Lincoln's address at Gettysburg. which it Is directed shall be read at all me- morlal day exercises.