Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-01
AUGUSTUS TRIBUTE TO
NATIONS PATRIOT DEAD
Impressive Exercises i'm the Morning, Afternoon and
Evening==Many Organizations in Afternoon
Parade==Ful Text of the Evening
Address at City Hail.

is u living rrfutal Of the old assertion
that republics are ungraterI;J. The
ceremonies and exercises peculiar ia II
not only keep in fragrant remembrance,
the valor and the suffering ana the sac
rllccS of those who responded to their
country's call, but they also cmphasiZe
before the Worlc the deathless princi-
pies of right for which that war was
fought, and they inspire the rising gen.
Grafton with a firm determination 10
preserve the fruits of the victory.
There is something thrilling and in
spring in the tlouSiIt that all over this
broad land today, just as here in our
own beloved city beside the kcnncbcc.
the beautiful exercises of Memorial Day
have been carried out. Columbia. like
mother, stands with bowed head
above the graves OF her SONS who gave
their lives that shc might live Her
hands are full of flowers and her hea RI
ovcrfoWs with love and tender memo
RES Thtr@ arc more graves to dec
crate th'm there We're last var. The
ranks OF the marching veterans arc
thinner, and the SriZzlcd heroes move
with slower steps. But the flag is held
aloft more proudly than ever; no grave
is neglected where it is known Il soldier
sleeps, and from the Atlantic to the
Pacific is reiterated and accomplished
the lesson Of patriotism for which this
sacred day stands. Thus may it be
through all the coming years,
May the day never como when Memo
rial Day shall be diverted. even in part,
from its original purpose. Sometimes
c notice q tendency that way, not the
result of dciiLcration but rather the
result Of thoughtlCssncsS. Such Il tend
cncy is much to. DC deplored. Perhaps
it has been noticed here in Augusta.
The Goth of May is one of the longest
days of the year, but it is not Ions
enough for games or sports or holiday
paatirIcS or anything that interfercs
with The full performance and general
participation in the sacred rites for
which the day was set apart. The day
belongs 10 the veterans, to the living
veterans and the dead, to their sons
and all Of Us who honor their memory.
Nov and through all the years to como
let lis KcC., Memorial Day what it was
meant that ii should be, a holy day ana
MT merely holiday.
There IS one feature Of the observance
Of Memorial Day which is especially
important and sipniticant-onc feature
W hich il especially to be commended.
This is the participation not only Of
that splendid "rCdniza ton, the Sons of
Veterans. but also al the young people,
the school children, IL tho exercises of
tic dav. | am glad that this feature
Is not neglected in Augusta, and that
q. ~. 10, 4 ~,
SCHOOLS and thTt the children collect
the flowers; for the Post. These chill
d.rn, these young people, are the
fathers ana mrthcrs Of tomorrow.
They arc the citizens of the future upon
Wnn'n Will FAN tho grave responsibility
of guarding the liberties which your
vuinr won Gud of pcrpetuating til"
r. public which you saved. These boys
ar" III" onCs VINO, If there shall be the
need. viii follow this old flag into
l:ftIc w you followed it forty years
aru-avc. ard not only will the 4 follow
ii there Int th"y Will bring it hack, rs
YOU brought il back. unSiaincd and
unsIlicd. More than this. they are the
ones who. when the last member Of
the Grand Army is mustered out and
no veteran j.; left to decorate hi!. COM
rnd"s' graves, will place the little flags
and TIE faircst i!"Wcrs of spring above
every silent tent Of green; and carry
out in the suirit of their sircs, the
sacred rites Of Memorial Day.
Iiow wildly I recall my own first
particira ton in the exercises Of Memo
rial Day, 1t was in the village of Oak
laud, - years or more ago, and
although I was there only Tor the day
7 was allowed to march with the long
line of school children who followed
Sergeant WyInan Post to the cemetery
iv tho shores of the MesSalonSkcc.
AnG 7 can see, az though it were yes
1or,lay. tho eimrlc ceremonies Of dec
nratirtr the graves and hear again the
brief addresses of the chaplain and the
commander as the procession halted
undcr the trees. Few things in the
Years that have passed since then have
Given INC the pride | felt rs I marched
with tho school children that day and
carried flowers for the graves of the
soldiers. 1t was an early impression
Of rovhood which time can never
eftaC2.
md orc of NY earliest rccOllections
If visiting the old cemetery over the
hills in BciErdW ,--tllF CHIlcttly wiz :
three generations Of my ancestors
sleep.-is of spelling out with q childish
fryer the inscription on the simple
marble shaft above the grave of my
fathers only brother. He received his
death wound before Petersburg. and
The last words he whispered before he
died are carved on that little monu-
ment. They are My only regret is
that have bat one life to give my
country" And 7 have no prouder and
more precious heritage from those OF
whose blood I arr and whose name
bear, than those dying words OF Private