Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-31
CITY BOWS In RAIN
Omaha Ds6ss Weather in Paying H'nOr to
Men Who Saved Nation.
THRTY-NINTH MEMORIAL DAY FOR IT
First One Observed Three Years After the
War Vividly Recalled
SENATOR BROWN is ORATOR OF THE DAY
Addresses Veterans and Friends at First
Christian Church Tabernacle
OUTDOOR EXERCISES ARE ABANDONED
Beautiful Service of Casting Flowers
on waters for sailor Dead Per-
formed In Launching
Floral Boat.
Addresses Veterans and Friends at First
Christian Church Tabernacle.
OUTDOOR EXERCISES ARE ABANDoNE

Scarcely could day have been less aus
picious from a climatic standpoint for the
celebration of the nations memorial to its
war heroes than yesterday when
Omaha, for the thirty-ninth time, Joined
in paying homage to the men who sacri-
ficed or rendered their lives for their coun-
try In it's time of greatest peril.
Yet Decoration day was celebrated and
celebrated, too. with the same devoted
zeal as though the sun shone brightly.
Though It could not damper the ardor of
patriotism, the rain and chill air did mar
the ceremonies and in some cases prevent
them entirely. The great street parade the
general exercises in Hanscom park and the
Thurston Rifles function at Prospect Hill
cemetery had to be abandoned. The gen.
eral exercises were held in the First Chris
tian church tabernacle. on Nineteenth be
tween Farnam and Harney streets. There
Senator Norris Brown was the orator of
the day and there men and women and
children assembled In loving tribute to the
living and dead heroes of the civil war.
The Rifles postponed their ceremonies until
Sunday. The beautiful service of casting
flowers upon the waters, for the sailor
dead, originated by Mrs c. NJ. Peters of
Omaha and observed annually all over the
nation, was performed in the launching of
a floral boat on the bosom of the Missouri
river.
whole City Gives Recognition.
Early in the day flags were unfurled from
all public buildings. The banks, stores,
libraries and schools were closed. All busi-
ness paused in reverence for the soldier
dead who sleep beneath the sod.
II was the thirty-ninth observation of
Memorial day in Omaha. The first was in
1863 when the few young men who had
settled In the frontier town after the war
held services and strewed flowers over the
few newmade graves in Omaha at that
time in accordance with the order issued
by General John A. Logan, then command
ing the Grand Army OF the Republic.
Something of the spirit of the old war
days seemed to permeate the breast of
every old man wearer of the blue. His
step was more elastic; his bowling shoul-
EtieTs came up in brave attempt to attain
lWthe squaIeness they had when he marched
away to the thrilling music of the hand
forty-six years ago; his pulse quickened
under the thrilling. memory-inspiring notes
OF the martial airs and the eloquence Of
the orator.
All Eyes the Sky,
In many house uncle or grandpa who
usually sleeps late, was up before the rest
were awake looking out anxously at the
sky. And by the time the rest of the fam
fly were ready for breakfast he appeared
quietly but proudly in his we'll brushed
suit OF blue with the badge on the left
breast. happy smile played about the
firm lips, of every veteran who appeared on
the street and moved his feet once more to
the inspiring music of 81.
The day was the one of the year and
the survivors of that brave army in whose
memory II is observed all over the country
did II full Justice, they always DO.
Some walked with canes and crutches
some who have been on beds of sickness
for months made the supreme effort and
arose and walked today. II was the day
OF days to which they had looked forward
for weeks. and having participated in its
devotions and ceremonies the heroes were
willing to pay for the privilege by more
weeks on beds of pain
Women First Ont.
The condition of the weather brought UNI
brellas and overcoats into requisition, but
on the Whole the temperature was salts
factory-more than great heat, which
often results in exhausting some Of the
venerable men, whose spirits are always so
willing and whose flesh is sometimes weak.
The earliest evidence of the observance
VI the uay was the departure OF the Ladies
OF the Grand Army at a. m. with a
wagonload of flowers and carryalls convey
ing the delegation OF forty children and
members of the organization with their
banners and hags to Forest Lawn Gene
terry, where the ritual exercises of strewinR
flowers on the graves OF the 200 soldiers
buried at Forest Lawn were carried out
About twenty little girls dressed in
white and decked with the national colors.
with Miss Vesta Geser sttired as Co
lumbia," performed the ceremony OF strew-
ing flowers over the graves at the Soldiers
Circle, assisted by a company Of little
boys. The service was beautiful and i'm
pressiNe and was accompanied with appro-
PIRATE songs and recitals
In addition to this special service the
soldiers monument was adorned with
Wreaths OF evergreen. and details from
the several posts and Woman's Relief
corps looked after the decoration of iso-
lated graves throughout the cemetery and
a the other cemeteries about the city
Flags had in the meanwhile beeen placed
az each of the soldiers graves