The Alamogordo news. (Alamogordo, N.M.) 1899-1912, 1906-06-02
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION.
Observed BY Old Soldiers and Git
liens in Great Style.

Decoration Day was observed
in AlamOgOrdO this year as never
before. Those who wore the
blue and those who wore the
gray and hundreds of our citizens
took part in the exercises in
showing respect for the dead
heroes of both sides Of the Civil
war.
At 10 q. m. the march started
TO cemetery where flowers were
placed on the graves of soldiers.
The vehicles that carried the
crowds to the cemetery were
decorated in national colOrs and
a great quantity of flowers were
also carried to the graves.
On the return and at 2 p. m.
the crowds gathered at the park
to hear speeches, music, recita-
tions, etc. Gen. Byron Sherry
of the Federal army, and who
was General of the Kansas mill
tia just after the close of the
war, addressed the people, max
ing o most appropriate speech
for the occasion. Following Gen.
Sherry Maj. Gillett spoke. Maj.
Gillett is an ex-Confederate, and
his speech dwelt upon the man.
ner in which the two factions of
the great civil strife had been
brought together by the inaugu-
ration of Memorial Day,-by the
placing Of flowers on the graves
of dead soldiers of both armies
by loving hands. Both Gen.
Sherry and Maj. Gillett are good
speakers, and one representing
the Federal and the other the
Confederate, their speeches were
appreciated by everybody.
The rest of the program con-
sisted of music, by children,
men, women, and short recita-
tions, including an address by
MIR. Herbert, all appropriate for
the days exercises.
All who joined in the days
memorial exercises and all who
attended, mixing and mingling
with the old soldiers were made
to feel better and that the day
had been properly spent in men,
ory of those who offered their
lives for the sake of our nation
memory of those who fought in
deadly battles on either side for
the love of a conscientious prin-
ciple.
Prof. Edwin Walters had pre-
pared speech for the occasion
but for the lack of time he did
not deliver it, and that our read
ers may enjoy this part of the
program which was not rendered
we herewith give the address as
prepared by Mr.. Walters. Mr..
Walters saw active service
throughout the conflict as a
Federal soldier. The address is
as follows:
The pathways of all great
nations are marked, and, to q
great extent. measured, by its
epochs Of wars-by the graves of
their soldier dead.
The United States has been
10 exception.
In common with the humane
of all ages, we deplore. war and
the martial spirit. But history
affords us no example of a great
nation that has not had its wars.
The nation that will not fight is
crushed by the juggernaut-war.
Commencing with the Revolu-
tiOnary war of 1775-S3, and end
ing with the great Civil war of
1S6l-5, the soldier dead who
once lived and marched under
the stars and stripes, as estim-
ated by the Adjutant Generals
office at Washington City, num-
Der 61O,128. The death roll Of
eX-Union soldiers since 1865 has
heightened to about 45O,OOO
The soldiers who were killed
or died. in the Mexican, Indian and
Spanish wars, or have died since
their close, number about $4,000
more.
"Of those who fought on the
national side since that April
morning in 1916 at Lexington
fully 1,11O,128 are numbered
with the dead.
What q recOrdl Aud yet this
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