The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-23
MEMORIAL DAY.
The National Dead Are H0nOred
by All Patriotic Organizations.
Arlington the Mecca for Thou
sands-FlOW ers to Be Strewn
in All Sections of the Country.
The Sailor Dead to Be Remem-
bered.

Memorial Day is to be observed with
sreater ceremony this year than ever
before if the General Orders of De-
partment Presidents are any criterion.
The Department of Potomac Woman's
Relief Corps has probably the greatest
task to perform on Memorial Day, over
10000 graves in and around Washing
ton being under the direct superintend-
ence of the President of that Depart
ment Isabel Worrell-Ball- In her Me-
mortal Day order, Mrs. Ball says in
part:
With the returning Springtide and
the roses returns the day long dedicated
to the Nations dead-that sad memo
rial anniversary marking a laurel
twined epoch in the Nations history,
when pansies for thoughts, rosemary
for remembrance, myrtle for love, and
amaranths, bright emblems of blessed
Immortality, are mingled with sad yew
and mourning cypress above the hearts
of the heroes who sleep, each in WIN
dowless palace of rest.
More than four decades have past
since the first order for this flower
memorial for the Nations dead went
forth. Year by year the sad, sweet
custom has grown in favor, and year by
year the fiag-marked mounds have in
creased, until "a soldier of the Union
mustered OUT slumbers on every hill
side and sleeps in every valley. In all
this broad land there is no "City of ST.
lence" that has not at least one war
worn veteran who has turned in at his
last tattoo. For them and fer the
! thousands of unknown heroes
who rest where they wearied,
And lie where they fell,''
Natures dear children, sun-nurtured
and rain-kissed, fragrant with perfume
and dew-gemmed, are laid upon the
altar of remembrance, a consscrated
memorial tribute of earth's brightest
and purest gifts to man-to the Ma
TONS bravest and best.
This memorial custom, grown to the
grandeur of a National holiday in this
country, is almost as old as the hui
man race Every Nation, at some pc
Rod of the blossoming season, decorates
the graves of it dead, but there is but
one country which has q National Me-
mortal Day, and Old Glory is that coun-
try's emblem.
Memorial Day, May 80, stands sep
arate and distinct from the memorial
customs of all the other Nations of the
world Our Memorial Day is dedicated
to the Nations dead heroes. No other
Nation on earth SO consecrates the
graves of fallen braves, and this year
many thousand dead in a new struggle
for humanity wait for wreaths of re-
membrance.
Another and distinctly American fea-
ture, and the most pathetic of all Me-
mortal Day customs and ceremonies, is
the tribute to the unknown dead. There
Is something tangible in the mound
heaped above the pulseless heart, tho
that heart never throbbed the quicker
for your coming, but in the history OF
the world there is nothing to parallel
the simple pathos of that tribute, tell
Ing the mute story of the thousands who
must sleep "unknelled, uncoffined anG
unknown" until the reveille on the
resurrection morn awakens them fol
the last grand review before the Great
Captain.
Bury hate, Danish strife, and unde,
the Flag of our Union and that banner
on which is inscribed Fraternity, Char.
ity and Loyalty let us march on to oul
greater and grander destiny.
AS the eastern worshiper, before ht
enters the precincts of holy place, di.
vests himself of his workday garment.
lest they profane 1t with their gross
ness so should we leave behind us tn,
passions and prejudices OF our dali,
lives as we approach the tombs of th'
mighty dead of our Republic. Thes'
are the shrines of American patriotism
Remember, too, those who went dowr
to the sea in ships-the brave sailor
and marines sleeping where pearls lii
deep, with wind and wave murmurini
unceasing requiems to their uncountet
hosts.
On the bosom of the beautiful rive
lay laurel and fadeless evergreens ant
the bright amaranths of eternal re
membrane. They dared much and de
serve the recompense of loyalty's trib
ute.
"Under low green tents whose portals
never outward swing" rest i'm ORGANIZES
sleep those who sacrificed their live,
3pon the altar of humanity in a latel
war. Close they iie-so close. thes'
veterans of two wars, that the same fiaf
shelters both. From the lap of deal