The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-05-31

Gathering again to pay respect to
the memory of the fallen heroes of
the great Civil war. members of the
Grand Army OF the Republic yester-
day held appropriate exercises in
Grand Forks. Ever since Memorial
day was originated in 1868 the custom
lOic dead has been carried out. Yes
terday the exercises held in Grand
Forks and conducted by the Willis a.
simple. 1t is in this simplicity that
the exercises are exceptionally inn
pressive.
The first exercises Of the day We're
held at Memorial park in the fore
noon. The members OF the Willis A.
German post, growing fewer each
year. were escorted to the cemetery
by the uniformed ranks. knights of
Pythias. At the cemetery, over the
graves of the departed. the simple SER
vices were held. These services are
most beautiful and inspiring. The sa-
lutte to the dead by firing squad is
a part OF the exercises and is most
beautiful and solemn.
In the afternoon the exercises were
held at the Metropolitan opera house,
the rain making it impossible to jour-
ney to the grove, where it had been
intended to hold the exercises. Pre-
vious to the exercises parade was
had. the line OF march being from the
Odd Fellows hall to the opera house,
the column circling about the southern
portion OF the city.
On arrival at the opera house the
members of the Willis A. German post
were assigned to seats in the central
portion OF the house. close to the
stage. The stage was beautifully dec
GRATED, as was the auditorium of the
playhouse.
The program was opened by the as
sembly call. the city band following
with selection. Rev. w. ". Moore
offered prayer, Commander Pierce
then reading the general Decoration
day orders. which was followed by
recitation, "Lincolns Gettysburg Ad-
DRESS" by Miss Florence Secord. This
was we'll rendered, the speaker show
ing the result of excellent training.
A specially organized quartet then
rendered Star Spangled Banner"
most effectively, and the audience was
hearty in its appreciation of the Sc
lection. Peace" by Miss Marion
Mercer, was another feature Of the
program. Little Miss Mercer is the
daughter of the Willis A. German
post, and during the past few years
her recitation has always been pleas
ing part of the program. Following
this was anpther selection by the
quartet. which was highly enjoyed.
The address to the unknown dead was
then delivered by j. F. T. O'Connor.
The speaker said:
A Tribute to the Unknown Dead
OF the Civil War.
Years after the celebrated battle
of Thermopylae, traveller, on visit
ing the spot. found monument with
the simple inscription, Stranger, go
tell Lacedaemon that he died in
obedience to her laws Why is it,
he asked, that the names of those
who died here are not inscribed on
the stone?' Because was the proud
reply. it is impossible that any Greek
should ever forget them
Today all over this land of ours a
simple but beautiful tribute is being
paid to the heroes of that great con-
fict which caused this continent to
trem'ble so violently that even the
thrones of Europe quivered. That
strange struggle when brother was
pitted against brother, and father
against son; when a mothers prayers
went up for her boy in blue, and
her daughters tears fell for hus-
band in gray-these people warning
with each other, who drank the waters
from the same rivers, who were inspired
from the same scenery. who inherited
the same blood, loved the same tradi-
tons and worshipped the same Cod
that struggle could not be named in
terms of nationality nor of religion
and hence the geographical cogno-
men. the northe against the south. 1t
is my purpose to speak of those who
fought and fell and now rest, num-
bered among the unknown dead.
1T is for the historian to chron-
icle the facts within a given period of
a nations development. and it is for
posterity to weigh their relative i'm
portance. At best, the historian can
only trace the main movements. Read
your histories of the Civil war; they
describe the great generals until you
feel that you know each as friend;
your eyes follow the print upon the
page, while your imagination sweeps
before the cannOns of Fort Sumter
and you hear the first shot fired to
preserve the union; you follow with
increased interest every movement of
the great dramatic great tragedy
through all the battles, until you reach
the climax at Gettysburg. But there
is one phase no historian can record;
no poet can put in verse, and no
speaker describe to his audience, and
that is to picture the sufferings and
death of the lonely soldier, who,
pierced by the bullet of the foe. dies
without the comfort of friend Four
and twenty thousand lives were lost
at the first battle of Bull Run; so
many lives were lost in this and that
battle; history gives the cold facts.
There on those terrible fields, when
the curtain OF night had dropped and
the storm of shot and shell had
ceased, and the wounded and dying
lay looking into the great dark canopy
OF the heavens above. with thoughts
OF loved ones far away and then of
their eternal home beyond the milky
way: $780,
While ~ faint summer stars. like
Hover above his lonely resting
place.
His blood flowed to baptise ma
tion-a ration which was born in
&c, dressed in the robes of state in
1912, baptised in 81, and when those
two hundred thousand lmen, with
Weather-Worn uniforms, shattered