The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-05-31
Military, Political and Social
Parades In Memory Of the
Dead Marked the Holiday
VAN HOUTEN's FINE DISPLAY
oRATIoNs BY FRANK o. COLE.
M. B. HOLMES. JAMES A. HAM
ILL, G. f. x. o'BRIEN AND MA
JoR-GENERAL JAMES E. GRAY
WELL.

city yesterday on a most elaborate scale.
Old Glory was displayed in front of
many houses throughout the city. There
were parades galore Some of these
were political and. social organizations
bent on an outing, but the most impress
sive were those of the veterans, their
sons and grandsons, and local militia, on
the way to the various cemeteries to rev.
erently decorate the graves of the vet
Grams departed comrades.
The principal factor of the day was
the appearance of Van Houten G. A. R.
Post in front of the City Hall. 1t was
one of the prettiest- and most inspiring
displays that had been seen there, and it
has the scene of many inspiring parades;
not so many spectators as on some for
mer occasions, because it was only one
of numerous similar events and many
people were out of town. But still the
front plaza was densely packed. The
Fourth regiment under command of Col.
Brensinger and attired in kakhi uni
form marched around the big white build
ing and formed in column of masses
fronting the reviewing stand, and just
behind the cadets of No. 9 School, who
had executed the same mansuevres.
The veterans in blue were deployed along
the pathway leading to the main entrauce
of the Hall, almost directly in front of
which stands the Soldiers and Sailors
monument, the base of which was sur
rounded by beautiful rotted flowers.
The Goodies sof Peace held out beau
tiful floral wreath in her bronze right
aand and still clasped another in her left
hand, which rests in her lap. Behind
the monument were massed the
members Of No. Training School and
some of the pupils of No. 9, who sang
numerous selections, including "Cover
Them Over With Beautiful Flowers" !"
America and "The Star Spangled Ban
ner'
Frank o. Cole acted as master of cer-
emonies. Chaplain Grower, of the Post,
offered up prayer. Mr.. Cole made a
brief address. Master Davidson, of No.
8 School. recited Idncoln's address at
Gettysburg. Colonel Grimes, comman-
der o fthe Post, was also in the review
ing stand.
Former Assenblyman James Hamill
delivered most eloquent grafton. He
said the assembIage had come to honor
the men who responded TO the call of the
country in its hour of peril and offered
up their lives to perpetuate its brightest
principles. He pronounced Memorial
Day q day of Love and forgiveness,
which was in accordance with the spirit
of American institutions and declared
that there should not be any, exaitation
over fallen brother foe. He cited the
victorious Grant at Appamaaex and the
immortal Lncoln's speech at Gettys-
burg, and wound up an grafton that
augar the hearts of his hearers wi,h q
9oetical allusicn to the aaurels that cover
che graves Of the boys who wore the blue
and the Niles of the valley that cover the
graves of the boys who wore the gray.
The Van Houten Post decorated
graves ia Bayview Cemetery in the
morning and other in New York Bay
Cemetery in the afternoon. 1t was a
busy day fc-ithe vets of that Post; the
grizzled warriors didn't seem to tire of
their duty.
Astor Garrison, No. 18. Arm and Navy
Unioa, mustered at the City Hall at 8
O'Clock a. m. and went to Holy Name
Cemetery. Comrade Michaei B. Holmes
delivered the eulogy. The Holy Name
Osmetery was also the scene of the
planting Of flowers oyer soldiers graves.
In the early morning hours ths Henry
Wilson Post conducted services there and
the Union Veteran Legion, Encampment
No. 81, planted flowers and conducted
services. The grafton was delivered BY
Charles #. x. O'Brien In connection
with the services of Henry Wilson Poss
Major-G General James e. Graywell. a
southern Confederate ofdcer, delivered a
nost Interesting Grafton. AT the SER
Tices in the same cemetery a quartette.
consisting of Edward Blanchard, tenor;
Mrs. Anderson, soprano; Mrs. Freuch,
alto: and w. F. Day, bass, sang num-
Der OF selections The oration at tie
Bay View Cemetery was delivered by
the Rev. W @. O'Donneil. of the West
Side NJ. e. Church. So
The George a. Thomas Posi- held its
services in the Weehawken Cemetery R
North Bergen President James w Ne
Carfhy. president of the BOARD of Alder
men. dA.vered the eulogv in English and
Sinking Fund Commissioner William E.
EgRukenbach spoks in German.