Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-03
ARRANGEMENTS FOR
MEMORIAL DAY
Will be Made at the Next Regu=
lar Meeting Of the Wood COun-
ty Post, No. %, 6. A. R.

Wood County Post, No. %, G.. A. R.
will appoint their committees and
prepare the program for the observ-
ance of Memorial Day, May Both, at
the next regular meeting. In the
last issue of the REPORTER Rev. G. A..
Mellicke'S name was given as the ora
tor chosen for that day. This was
correct in SO far as the choice was con-
cerned. but unfortunately Mr.. Mel
licke is unable to accept of this honor
owing to the amount of work that he
is called upon to attend to as secretary
of the Fourth Synod District of his
church. The choice of an orator
therefore will be made at the next
regular meeting of the post.
Commander T. j. Cooper, of Wood
County Post. in conversation with the
writer this week stated that the rec
concentrations made by Corporal"
James Tanner, commander in chief of
the national G.. A. r. in his Memorial
Day proclamation, would probably be
included in his proclamation.
Commander Tanners announce
ment recommended that Lincoln's IS
Gettysburg address be read at all SER
vices on May 30th and says in part:
"We have been observing this day
ever since our beloved Logan inStitu-
ted 1t in 1868. This year, my COM
radeS we are crossing the broad river
at the rate of 5000 month, 60,0Go a
year; soon the great majority will be
sleeping their last sleep and it is our
privilege now, as it has been for many
years, to pay loving tribute to their
memory by decorating their graves
with flowers, which starting forth
from Mother Earth with each recur-
ing springtime are emblamatic of a
resurrection to glorious Immortality.
l am but performing my solemn du-
ty when 1 ask all to assist in this low
ing service. Upon department and
post commender the duty rests of at
tending to the fitting observances of
Memorial day, May Both. Welcome all
auxiliary and allied organizations, en-
courage school children to attend and
assist, and secure speakers, who, in
clear and eloquent language, will
teach the lessons of patriotism for
which our comrades gave the last full
measure of devotion.
Thirty years ago when | was depart
ment commander of New York in q
memorial order I then issued, l sug-
gested to the comrades of New York
that whenever, from Montauk Point
o.BuffalO, any Confederate soldier had
found scpulchre among US, trusted
that when we went out to laurel the
graves of our union dead. that our
common American manhood would
prevent US passing by the graves of our
former opponents without putting
thereon some sort of floral remem-
brance.
Mot" l said, ''In 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 mar
shalled in battle array,
We were then scarce dozen years
away from Appomattox, but the sug-
gestion seemed to meet with very gen.
eral approval. To the order at large.
/ now confidently make the same Sug-
geStiOn.
ssThe old flag has been re-baptized
since 1865 with the bloed of the north
and south alike and the ship Of state
is securely anchored for ali time"