Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-10
MEMORIAL DAY PLANS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TANNER,
q. a. h., ISSUES ORDERS.

The Memorial day address of Com
mander-tn-Ch.ef James Tanner of the
Grand Army of the Republic has just been
fssted as general orders No. Z. Owing to
his recent visit to Atlanta where he at
tended the Gen. Wheeler memorial serv-
ices and thes Blue and the Gray meeting,
The order is of more than general interest
by reason of its references to the men who
wore the southern gray In the sixties. The
order ts. In part as follows:
ION the eve of my departure to the south
ern. western and Pacific coast departments
I am reminded Of the early approach Of the
day sacred to all comrades Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic.
We have been observing this day ever
since our beloved Logan instituted 1t In
1855. This year., my comrades. we are
crossing the broad river at the rate OF
5000 month. 60.oO0 year; soon the great
majority will be sleeping their last sleep.
and 1t Is our privilege now. as it has been
for so many years, to pay loving tribute to
their memory by decorating their graves
with flowers. which, starting forth from
mother earth with each recurring spring
time. are emblematic of resurrection to a
glorious immortality.
Asks All to Assist.
81 am but performing my solemn duty
when ask all to assist in this loving serv-
ers the duty rests of attending to the fitting
observance of Memorial day. which this
year will fall on Wednesday, May 80 We'll
come all auxiliary and allied organizations
encourage school children to attend and
assist and secure speakers who, in clear
and eloquent language, will teach the les
sons CT patriotism for which our comrades
gave the last full measure of DEVOTION
Thirty years ago, when l was department
commander Of New York, in a Memorial
day order ! then issued / suggested to the
comrades OF New York that wherever, from
Montauk Point to Buffalo, any confederate
soldier had found sepuleher among us l
trusted that when we went out to laurel the
graves of our Union dead our common
American manhood would prevent us pass
ing by the graves of our former oppo-
nents without dropping thereon some floral
remembrance. Not | said, in honor OF
their cause, for that We opposed fought
and conquered, but because we who met
them on the field of battle know that BRAY
er men or better soldiers have not been
known since men were first marShaled in
battle array
I'VE were then scarce a dozen years away
from Appomattox but the suggestion
seemed to meet with very general approval
To the order at large l now confidently
make the same suggestion.
World Applauds, Conscience Approves
I'VE have returned the battle standards
or the dead cOnfeQeracy TO those VINO treas
ure them as sacred meInentos Of their loved
ones who died under them. The Congress
of the United States has just unanimously
voted 100000 to care for the graves of
those dead, and the heart of the nation has
said, with great unanimity, 1t is well!
Unitedly we march along the highway of
nations, rose bushes blossoming over and
around and the birds nesting in the mouths
of the cannon that once roared defiance and
death at each other, the world applauding,
oux conscience approving.
'~--.f -1Yrot Of the south still sit like
Rachel of old weeping for their children,
and refusing to be comforted because they
are not, let the news go down to them that
on our most sacred day we feel 1t q privi-
Iege to stand in the place of their far dis
tant knsmen and lovingly mark their last
resting place with Gods sweetest emblem
of peace, flowers.
The old flag has been rebaptized since
1866 with the blood of the north and the
south alike. and the ship of state is securely
anchored for all time.
In conclusion mmander-in-chief Tanner
gives President Lincolns address at Gettys-
burg and directs that it be read at all Mem
orial day services.