The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-06-05
HEROES OF NATION
ARE REMEMBERED
Old Comrades Decorate Their
Graves With Flowers.
OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY
Impressive Exercises Held in Audi.
forum with Stirring Address by Rev.
George b. Lawson Graves in Gene.
teries Bodecked with Flowers.

| teries Bcdecked with Flowers.
Brattleboro paid tribute TO her heroic
| dead ON Memorial day aud Ia promise that
their costly sacrifice shall never bc for
gotten once more hesircwed their graves
with flowers. The day was cloudy and
showers iell at intervals during the after.
noon, but Ia spite Of these weather con
/ ditions scores oi people made pilgrim
ages To the various cemeteries 10 honor
| those who lett all 10 serve their Coun.
ltn in is hour oi need. Beautiful with
| flowers and flags the graves Of the de-
parted hcmcs presented an appearance
| In harmony with the rich spring foliage
surrounding their last resting place.
Formal observance Of the day began
at one o'clock when about 30 members OF
Sedgwick post, &. \. H., gathered at
their headquarters IN Grand Army hall
aud large delegation of the Woman :
Relief Corps assembled in Festival hall.
At las the First Regiment band marched
10 the Vermont National Guard aimury
in MILESTONE block where Company I
and delegation OF about u Spanish
War veterans formed q line and escort
cd the older veterans 10 the auditorium.
The stage was prettily decorated with
solid flowers, palms and potted plants,
flags being draped at each corner. The
veterans and members Of the Relief Corps
occupied seats near the stage. Aside
from them. only small audience was
present. The exercises opened with a
selection by male quartet composed OF
W. A. Gilbert, 4. l.. Maynard, l.. II.
Crane and +. H. Brasor. Rev. l.. NJ.
Kencston then offered prayer after which
the quartet sang second selection. Col.
II. r. Taylor, who presided, then intro
4 4 ktt.l p.a
an address on the character OF Lincoln.
Mr.. Lawson traced the spirit OF indepen-
dence from the signing of the Declare
ton OF independence to the time OF Ian.
coin, when the fruit OF liberty had
its expression IN that most glorious
act OF Lincoln's life, the proclama-
ton of emancipation of the colored
race. Coming at time when the forces
of the union were crippled 10y defeat aud
the outcome OF the war was a matter OF
gricyOus speculation It stood out as an
act OF courage and foresight that has
been hardly equalled 10y the effort OF any
man in the history OF our country. l.ln'
coin must have been dlyinely inspired,
for he rose from post OF obscunty and
ignorance to bc one OF the greatest heroes
in the worlds progress. Circumstances
that would have held down an ordinary
man proved to bc the very conditions that
made Lincoln what lie was and the re
suits OF his earlier experience were PLAIN
ly manifest in that supreme act OF courage
which changed the dropping, almost con
quered union forces to living engines OF
victory and success. Wholly beyond any
love of self Lincoln devoted himself to
the interests of the people. His SIN.
cerity and devotion to the welfare OF all
were the predomnating traits IN his char
acter. In the face OF the severest oppo-
sition and against the seliishness OF some
of his closest friends Lincoln worked I'M
for the general good OF the NIL
lions over whom he had been made chief.
His keen appreciation OF the demands OF
every situation gave him sense OF duty
that proved to be one OF the rules OF his
life. Under the most distractlng circum,
stances when the proper solution seemed
almost invisible he invariably acted IN
such way as to bring about the great
est good for the greatest number In his
strenuous warfare for the right Lincoln
was obliged to give up many pleasures
and enjoyments and not the least OF these
sacrifices was the loss Of friendships that |
his public career brought about. Bitter |
hatred against him was cherished by
those who held opposite views IN respect |
to slavery and when the people OF the |
cbattels Lincoln was to them an object |
of loathing and disgust, but through It |
all he preserved a simplicity that stood |
out in sharp contrast to the results OF has |
Open, keen to the /
needs of those who were in sorrow, sym |
pathetic and tender, Lincoln was unques-
the greatest man OF his age,
working miracles for the advancement |
and development of the United States.
He left heritage to the American peo-
pie that forms one of the constituent
parts of our national life today. lie made
freedom a reality and instiied IN the
hearts of his people a love OF liberty that
shows itself in our religious, civic and per
sonal freedom.
At the close of Mr.. Lawsons address
The audience Joined in singing America
and the formal exercises were brought
20 a close
The procession formed in front of the
own hall in the following order: Chief of
Police j. II. Evans and assistants; Chief
Marshal w. T. Haigh and aides, James
P. Elmer, A. B. Ashley, Luke Ferrter
md II. H. Burnett; Company |, V. \; e.,
CAPTAIN Waterman commanding; Sedg-
wick Post, G.. A. r., Henry j. Allen COM
Spanish-American War vet
,rans; speakers, invited guests and dis.
lbled veterans in carriages. The line OF
march was up Main street to the soldiers
monument on the common where appro-
lriate exercises were held. Prayer was
,ffered bv Rev. Allison M. Watts and the
,and PLAYED sacred selection. On the !
march back through Main street the pro I
esson halted in front OF the town ,
lall, where school children presented
ach veteran with wreaths to be used in
the soldiers graves. On ac- [
cunt of the rain the children did not
DIN in the procession as was planned, but
net the members of the post near the
raves to be decorated and provided each t
eteran with bouquets of flowers, wreaths {
nd set pieces. Prayers were read by !
rev. w. j. Hamilton, after which the old
eterans laid flowers on the graves of G
heir dead comrades A delegation then l
1arched to the Catholic cemetery; and '
ecorated the graves of the old soldiers
Tho are buried there. The Spanish war I
eterans placed flowers on the graves OF |
he comrades after which Rev. A. W. /
Watts offered prayer. All joined in the |
.ords prayer and the benediction was |
by Rev. W. j.. Hamilton. t
his closed the exercises OF the day and t
fter marching to their quarters the va t
ous organizations broke ranks.
During the year three members of the C
ost have passed away. These are Henry t
[. Curlier, A. +. Gillette and George Z. !;
reene. 2
L