Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-02
RIFLES HONOR THEIR DEAD
Brigadier General Morton Delivers
Address at Prospect Hill.
CADET TAYLOR READS THE ROLL
Ann unI Memorial Services OF Conn
pany L, First Nebraska volun-
eers, Held at Monument
in the Cemetery.

Inv NV
in honor Of the dead of Company l., First
Nebraska United states Volunteer In
fantry, Thurston Rifles, was held Satur-
day afternoon at the Company L monu-
ment in Prospect Hill cemetery in the
presence of a large number of friends
and relatives and members of the Thurs
ton Rifles association.
Cadet Taylor acted as master of cere-
monies and opened the proceedings with
a brief reference to the day and occa-
sion. The first Of these services were
held seven years ago in st. Mary's Ave-
nue. Congregational church.
A quartet consisting of Miss Alice
~schandler, Miss Louise Brookfield, J. j.
Maven and Silvian Burkenrod then sang
"The Vacant Chair"
The invocation was delivered by Rev.
Addison f. KniekerbocKer OF ST.
Matthias Episcopal church.
Cadet Taylor then gave an interesting
sketch of Company L and its services
during the spanish-American war and at
the outbreak Of the Philippine insurrec-
tion.
Five Lie Near the Monument.
He read the list of the dead of the COM
d. .iy who lost their lives during the
Spanish-American war, five Of whom
were buried near the monument erected
to the memory of the company. Others
were buried elsewhere, one in Massachu-
sets, another in Missouri, another in
Iowa. and two or three in their private
family lots elsewhere in the Omaha Gem
e~teries. The company lost nine of its
members in the spanish-American war
and six have since died, some of whom
are buried near the monument
The total enlistment of the company
was 1O7. Fifteen of it's members have
died. Eighteen were Wounded in action
in the Philippines and nine lost their
lives in that faraway land. The COM
pany was in twenty-five engagements.
Thirty-three per cent of the company
were killed or wounded in action. Mr..
Taylor read a brief extract from the ad-
dress OF the late John N. Baldwin, de-
livered at the banquet given to Company
L at the Willard hotel in Omaha upon
the return of the company from the
Philippines.
Mr.. O'Neil sang a baritone solo, sleep
On" following which Rev. A. e. Knicker-
booker, formerly chaplain of the Second
Nebraska regiment, United States Vol
unteer infantry, delivered a short memo
rial address. He spoke OF the beauty
and pathos of these memorial occasions,
which, he said. were each year being OBJ
served with deeper reverence and urged
that these men have left a heritage of
patriotism and loyalty to duty that can
not be overestirhated
The quartet then sang the Memorial
Day" hymn.
General Morton's Tribute.
Brissdier General Charles Morton, q. s..
A. commanding the Department of the
Missouri, followed with a short address.
eve all respect persons OF convictions, be
those convictions right or wrong" said he,
land when men are ready to lay down
their lives for their patriotic convictions it
is \our duty to revere and cherish their
memories. An incident that has left a
lasting impression on my memory was that
/ was privileged to be one Of the funeral
escort to General Winfield Scott, who was
buried May %, 1866. There were present on
that occasion about a dozen of the old
veterans {. the war of 1872. These men
were given the position of honor and were
given the same distinguished consideration
that the president of the United States and
other great officers Of the government were
given who attended these ceremonies. The
motives that actuated these old veterans
were the same that actuated the soldiers
OF the spanish-Amerioan war. Let Us give
to these younger soldiers the same honor
and glory we give to the older veterans.
1t was my good fortune to be associated
at times with the old First Nebraska. and
1 knew its colonel, General Thayer, well. 1
also knew the colonel of the newer First
Nebraska who lost his life in battle at the
head Of his regiment in the Philippines. 1t
always happens it is the best men who fall
in battle"
The audience then sang America" led
by the quartet, after which a detachment
OF Company l., First Nebraska National
Guards, firede a triple volley in salute for
the dead. and then taps were blown by
the bugler of the company.
UpoE the conclusion of the services, the
members of the Thurston Rifles association
fell in line and passed in front of General
Morton. shaking hands with him and thank
ing him and the other participants in the
program for the services.