The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-05-31


Although there are many versions Of
the origin OF Memorial day. historians
OF the national capital agree that to-
days Observance marks the forti,th
anniversary OF its acceptance by the
Grand Army Of the Republic.
General John A. Logan. commander.
iu.chicf Of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public instituted general Memorial
day observance In 1865. Credit for
the idea has been assigned To mum.
Der of persons since the custom has
become so firmly fixed iu the nation.
al life.
1t is said that during the spring OF
1868 Adjutaut General Chipman OF
the Grand Army OF the Republic re-
ceived letter from a former federal
soldier then residing iu Cincinnati.
The writer stated that iu Germany, his
native country, II was the custom Of
the people to gather each spring and
strcw the graves of their dead with
flowers.
General Chipman, this report has IT,.
was so much pleased with the suEgcs.
tlon that he made out the draft ut an
order upon the subject and presented
IL TO General Logan then commander.
in chief of the Grand Army The re
suit was General Logans famous Me
mortal day
Credit for the suggestion has also
been given James Rodpath. a newspa
per man OF Kansas Boston and New
York. Soon after the close of the
war Rodpath was appointed by Gen
erals Hatch and SaNton as superin.
tendent OF the schools of Charleston,
5 c.. devoting himself especially to
organizing a system OF education for
colored youth.
While engaged in this work, it Is
related, Mr.. Redpath began to talk
with the little negro children about
decorating the graves of their friends
and defenders who fell IN the gigan
tic conflict that resulted i'm their free
dom.
one April day he was advancing
this idea in little church that was
crowded with negro children. one OF
the colorcd girls suggested that they
90 Immediately, gather armluls OF
flowers and place them on the graves.
This set Mr.. Redpath 10 thinking
Of what might be accomplished by
general move of such sort. In the
end he instructed the children to tell
their friends that on May day the
graves of the Union soldiers around
Charleston would be decked with
flowers.
Greater even than Mr. Redpath had
hoped was the response More than
10000 persons, II is stated, gathered
at the federal cemetery, and the
graves were literally covered with
spring flowers.
StIll another statement OF the orr
gin of the custom has It that the bur.
!al OF a young soldier In New YORK
state suggested the idea. II was on
a beautiful May day when the sorrow
tg relatives and friends gathered
about the open grave beneath the
hlossOmiug boughs or a fruit tree.
When the solemn committal rites
were over and the last shovelful OF
ca m had been cast on the mound,
the wind swept with strong breath
through the oyerhanging boughs, and
20 yeritable snowfall Of sweet, white
blossoms descended upon the young
hero's resting place
Tradition has it that when. years
later, this story was repeated to Gen
eral Logan the idea or an Official deco
ration day took shape in his mind.
The late General Joseph Wheeler al
ways insisted that General I.Ogan's at
teutiOn was attracted to such memo
,ial tribute by a custom that had al.
ready been followed several years by
the women OF the south.