The Press., 1907-06-05
UNION.

ance at the graves of the dead, even in that of the stranger, who is void of personal interest in the bodies that therein repose. But there is some- thing more than this prevailing feel ing of solemniEy when 8 Grand Army post approaches the sod-covered re- mains of comrades to strew upon these graves the myrtle and the laurel. The feeling becomes one of awe and reverence. The little band of veter- ans of the Grand Army yet remaining in the D. F. Corbin post, No. "A, as they winded their slow and silent way to the north cemetery, accompa- nied by their wives, their children and their grandchildren, and the in- habitants generally, on Decoration day, without the moaning strain of the dirge or tap of muffied drum, was entirely shorn of the spectacular, and was @ scene that was most sad and touching. Tha arrangements for the proper observances for the day were most successfully carried out. Commander Howard had conf1ded these arrangements to the care of Adjutant Bruce R. Horton. Comrade Horton for some weeks has been seriously ill, and was unable to give much of his personal attention to the various de- tails, but he was ably assisted by his wife and other ladies of the village and by Miss Palmer, one of the school teachers, as secretary for him, who was indefatigable. The school chill dren were in the procession, and the girls were very oharmingly and taste fully arrayed for the occasion, and bore tiny silk flags and other patriotic emblems. The march was taken up from the Congregational church and proceeded to the cemetery, where the graves were strewn with flowers and garlands. A trio was here sung by Mrs. Upham, Mrs. Horton and Mrs. Miller. From the cemetery the pro- cession marched to the soldiers mon- ument. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mir. Rogers. The church choir, com- posed of E. M. Horton, leader, Mrs. Frances Upham, Mrs. Bruce R. Hor- ton, Miss Rogers, MT. Reed, MT. Hig- gins and Mrs. Lillian Miller, organ ist, sang a patriotic anthem, after which the children placed their floral tributes around the monument. Then comrade Major William D. Gourley from the adjutant generals office, headquarters of the Atlantic division, Governors Island, N. r., spoke as follows:-
 Comrades and Friends: As you scatter your roses and your lilies around this mausoleum, this vener- ated shaft, which is a sacred memory. which is part of the glorious his- tory of this community. let it be with the thought that the fate that hangs over the death doomed race of mar appalls us not. We tread upon the very graves of 8 thousand races oi mankind, and give not a thought tC the fellow dust of ages agone that sleeps below. We are now with tho present, that which we know of, that which symbolizes an epoch in ouI own lives, that which is passing witt us into the mysterious beyond. W. see the spring of life gushing forth and pouring out stream after stream and a consciousness steals upon us that we are but the parts of one beautiful whole undergoing everlasting change to the glory of Him who creates all, And it is with such thought that per vades me, in reheoting upon the mem ories of those valiant soldiers that are sleeping below, which this cold shaf so affectionately, so touchingly com memmorates, and bearing the beauti ful, the devotional words: ''To tho mothers who gave their sons, to tht soldiers who gave their lives, and tC those who, daring to die, survive tho war of the rebellion" The pathol here so voicelessly breathed, not only illumines the patriotism of an exalted order of the donor of this monument and for whom this Grand Army pos bears his name. but it tells the stort of Christian love for his fellow crea ture, and has, unconsciously, reared a monument to his own fame. Ye by these pathetic words we are re minded that it was the pounding gun on vine clad hills that sung the grant requiem of these heroes. It was tn screaming shells that threaded tn ruffled air-and souls were called bacl to God; but the deaths, striped witI black and red, were washed the white to make the stars of the union bright CT that the flag might live.
 Their memories are sleeping in tn
 home ohurchyard,
 Where nature plants those higher trib
 utes-hers,
 Of ivy and of clover; where our tu
 mult's
 Shrill reveilles shall wake them no
 again. s
 And here we come to set our tru | memorial,
 Renewed like verdant May - witl
 peans of men, ,.--' With flowers and the flag they dareC
 to die for.
 My friends, the lark at Heavens gatG