The San Francisco call., 1908-05-31
Thousands Do Honor to Brave
Defenders in Ceremonial
at the Preside
Homage, Inspiring in Simplicity,
Rendered Before Veterans
of Three Wars
Day of Matchless Perfection
Attracts Citizens to Hear
Tributes Paid by Orators
Floral Setting of Great Beauty
Covers Grassy Slopes and
Graves of Dead

In the surprisingly beautiful set
ing afforded by the eucalyptus en-
circled national cemetery at the Pre-
sidio the old soldiers who made their
breasts a barricade between our coun-
try and its foes"-to quote the i'm
mortal general order of John A. Lo-
gan-yesterday did honor to their
dead.
The ceremonial was severely simple.
and all the more inspiring because of
its simplicity. Silver haired veterans
of three wars stood on the grassy
hillsides, heard the deeds Of their
fallen comrades httingly celebrated In
eloquent words. involuntarily straight
ened their backs as the sharp rifle
cracks volleyed over the graves. and
with cleaning eyes watched the flag
run up and swell IN the breeze
CITIZENS KEENLY INTERESTED
While 1t is the battle SCARED soldier
to whom this annual tribute to valor
appeals with peculiar poignancy. citi-
zens generally evince the keenest tn
terest in IT. Attracted out of doors by
yesterdays example of the very per-
lection of California's climate. thou
sands OF people crowded to the Pre-
sidfo and sat in the shade of the blue
gums during the exercises. But it
was the day of the veteran To him
all Difference was shown; it was his
brothers in arms who were being
honored The regular troops and the
national guard also participated promi-
nentiy in the memorial exercises.
In its formal aspect the ceremonial
was ended at noon But the great ma
jority of the white headed warriors.
with their families, remained in the
cemetery for at least several hours,
and many of them for the remainder
of the day. telling over their fights and
exchanging "reminiscences OF the days OF
active service. The scattering of fiow-
ers on the graves was the prettiest
part of the days proceedings. Every
veteran carried to the Preside bou-
quet and armfuls of blossoms by the
many hundred were taken out by proud
though mourning relatives OF those who
had fallen in their country's service.
There was not grave that did not
have its canopy of blight flowers.
parade of veterans. headed by
regulars and national guardsmen. start
ed the program The United States
troops consisted OF six companies OF
Coast artillery and two troops OF ths
Fourteenth cavalry. all under the COM
mand OF Colonel ]. A Lundeen- Next
came the national guard. Colonel ID. A.
smith commanding The veterans sue
ceeded them In the following order:
Mexican war veterans. E. A Sherman
public-Lincoln post no 1. John Cro-
nan. commanding: George H Thomas
post No. z, T. ". Nowlin commanding,
James A. Garfield post No. "a. L. H
Edel commanding; George G. Meade
post No. IS. Fred Hunt commandingl
United Spanish war veterans-Rein-
held Richter camp No 2. John M. Crow
ley comanding; Nelson A Miles camp
Nos 10. Lewis c. weisbach commands
ing: G. H. Riley camp No. IA. A r 8
Keller commanding AS the parade, led
by the fine band of artillery corps.
wound round the paths leading from
the grounds in front Of the hospital TO
the cemetery. 81 minute guns were
fred. When the higher part OF the
cemetery. from which the broad sweep
Of the bay Is visible. was reached. the
parade was dismissed
MAYOR TAYLOR SPEAKS
A platform hat been erected for the
speakers and among others on IT were
Mayor Taylor with his wife and Chief
OF Police Bisgy- Comrade J. B. Fuller.
chairman OF the Memorial day COM
mittee. having called the vast assem-
blage to order and Chaplain stephen
r. Wood having delivered an invoca-
tion, Comrade A. d. Cutler was intro
duced as chairman Of the day Cutler
said:
Mexican war veterans. oldest OF comrades.
ycu who trod the path OF victory up TO the
Golden gate so that IL might pass under the
/ aegis Of our nag. we greet you. Spanlsh-Amer-
ican war veterans. you who carried the dag half
way round the world. greet you Comrades
Of the Grand Army Of the Republic. you Who
made Memorial day possible. you who have been