The Washington herald., 1908-05-31

poet. and reader: the Gaelic chorus
Henry Wilson Post, No. II, G. A. r.
]. J. Astor Command, Spanish War Vet
erans; veterans Of the home: invited
guests and visitors.
Assembly was sounded as soon as the
| procession reached the speakers stand
| This was followed by a selection by the
| Soldiers Home Band. followed with
Nearer. My God. TO Thee" The senior
vice commander. Col. Holbrook. called
the assembly to order. and was followed
with the invocation by Rev. II. allen
/ Griffith, chaplain OF the home. An "Ode
TO America" was sung, after which DIT
Thomas Calver recited an original poem.
This was followed by soprano solo by
Mrs. Nellie Kelser
Lincoln's Gettysburg address was read
by b. r. Campbell. past commander-in-
chief of the Sons OF Veterans. Rev
Abram Simon delivered the Grafton.
Or. Simon said in part:
Each annual cycle testIfes 10 the
beauty. wisdom. and necessity Of Decora-
ton Day. The American. with his pur-
suit after material things shows his
native idealism by consecrating one day
to the memory Of her salnted army that
garrisons the cemeteries. Decoration Day
Is the annual feast Of gratitude: II is the
SaDbath OF the soul The manly living
nave dedicated II 20 the noble dead. II Is
our pledge Of renewal cur annual re-
birth and baptism Of the holy blood OF
the martyrs, soldiers and sailors through
whom our blessings have been saved"
The remainder OF the programme was
continued. as follows: American hynn
by the Gaelic Society. selection by the
Soldiers Home Band, singing OF "Amerf-
ca by the audience. and the sounding
Of taps" by a bugler
Congressional Cemetery.
At Congressional Cemetery hundreds
gathered at 10 o'clock to participate in
the exercises. which in some respects
were as extensive as those at the Ma
tional Cemetery. Farragut Post No. 10.
G. A. r.. visited the 1900 graves OF SOL
diers and sailors who died for the Union.
and full OF memories OF the DAYS long
since past, left flowers and wreaths as
tokens.
The Sons OF Veterans Of Cushing Camp.
No 80; Farragut Woman's Relief Corps
and Daughters of Veterans. Ellen Spencer
Mussey Tent, No. /. assisted the vet
erans.
The exercises were opened by the
sounding of ''reveille" and assembly" by
a bugler Of the Engineer Band after which
the band played q selection. This was
followed by the singing and playing Of
Nearer. Ny God To Thee by the choir.
band, and assembly
Dr. H. A. Johnson, Junior vice de-
partment commander, Department of the
Potomac. G. A. r., made the introduc-
tory remarks.
. DR.. Johnson said. in part:
The American patriots who for eight
long weary years were engaged in a des-
perate struggle with foreign tyrannical
nation in their resistance 10 oppression
and unjust laws, and 10 obtain their ma
tional independence are enshrined in the
hearts Of the American people. and their
heroic deeds will never be forgotten, for
they. by their valor and suffering. Sc
cured for US the blessing OF free govern
ment by creating a free republic. But to-
day We are assembled for the express
purpose OF Offering our tribute Of love
and gratitude to the men who in the
years of 1861 to 1865. went forth in the
flOSger Of their young manhood to pre-
serve the Union Of States and to per
petuate on a firm and lasting foundation
national government whose authority
should be supreme. and which no State
forming part thereof should ever there
after question or seek to destroy by
withholding its support or by armed re-
Col. George c. Ross, Bunside Post, No
S. G.. A. r., followed DR.. Johnson. with
the reading Of Lincoln's Gettysburg ad-
dress. The Metropolitan Baptist Church
choir sang ITO Thee. o. Country" after
which Musician Wintermeyer, OF the En-
e1nppr Rand pnVa n solo
Delivers the Grafton.
Representative Edward P. Seeds. or
Iowa, delivered the oration of the day.
Seeds referred to the sac
rifces and valor Of the men who partici-
pated in the war of 1S61-1S65. and Of the
honor being accorded them on Memorial
Day. He said their victories made possi-
bic the strong nation which now chal-
lenges the wonder and admiration of the
nation, which, in strength.
wealth. and population. and other ma
terial factors. takes its position in the
forefront Of the nations Of the earth.
Following the Grafton the choir sang
The Speed of Our Republic" after which
A funeral march was played by the Engi-
ANNA DclAN- <AA VI lbllitlA pOClu WAS. read
by Col. John A Joyce, of Kit Carson
Post. No. 2. The choir, band, and assem-
bly, sang America" Rev. J. L. Brenizer
followed with the benediction, and then
came the sounding of Taps" and the
firing OF the national salute
At Glenwood, Prospect Hill. 81. Mary's
and Mount Olivet cemeteries an elaborate |
programme was carried out, and many
graves of heroes were made fresh an
beautiful with garlands of flowers and |
iags by the veterans of George II, Thom- |
rs Post. No. Is. G.. A. r.; Gushing Camp I
sons Of Veterans. Richard ]. Harden |
camp, Spanish War Veterans. and Wom- |
ms Relief Corps. No. IL.
Detachments from the Thomas Post. |
Sons OF Veterans, and Spanish War Vet |
'rans assembled at the Northeast Temple |
md proceeded to Mount Olivet, where /
hey strewed flowers over the graves of |
he soldiers buried there. The detach- |
nent Joined the main command at the |
chapel at Glenwood Cemetery, where ex-
rcises were held
Invocation was said by the chaplain of /
Thomas Post, William H. Honn. Adit. /
L. II. House read the orders. The sing /
ng of Nearer, Ny God, to Thee" by |
he audience followed the reading Of or !