Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12
SERVICES IN MEMORY OF DEAD
MEMORIAL DAY PLANS UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
Meeting of the General Committee
Held at G. A. r. Hall Last
Might.

The first meeting of the Memorial day
committee of the Department of the
Potomac. c. A. R., for 1905 was called
to order at o'clock last evening in Grand
Army Hall by Department Commander
John S. Walker. There was a large at
tendance, and the reports made by some
of the committeeman showed that the
duties incident to the sacred observance
of May 30 were already well in hand
The roll of the committee was called by
Assistant Adjutant General O. H. Old
royd from general order No. t. which was
published in The Saturday Star
Col Walker called attention to the sig
nificance of Memorial day and the les
sons of duty and patriotism it should con-
vey to the American people. He said
that in his state. Iowa, there is an almost
iron clad law against the dissertation of
the day of memory and tears for the SOL
dier and sailor dead of the nation.
Assistant Quartermaster General Francis
l.. Mckenna said ii was his underSta and
ing that the government will furnish
small American flags TO be placed OF each
soldier and sailor grave in the national
cemeteries next Decoration day He
added that the Department of the
Potomac headquarters has on hand about
5000 flags that were left over from last
Memorial day. and they could be placed
on the graves in private cemeteries which
WIN NV p' pi NV iuSu lpi ny the govern
ment.
Capt. Israel w. Stone chairman of the
committee on finance, reported that col
lections for flowers and the expenses at
tending the observance OF the day would
he made in all the. executive depart
ments of the government as usual and
that the members of the committee had
In general been courteously received by
the heads of departments and bureau
chiefs. He expressed the hope that the
collections would be liberal
Given Representation.
AT this point announcement was made
that Gen. Andrew S. Burt L. s. A.. and
committee representing three garrisons
of the Army and Navy Union. were at
the door Department Commander
Walker appointed a committee compris-
ing the senior vice department com
mander. Edwin HI. Holbrook and the
Junior vice department commander Henry
A johnson. to escort Gen. Burt and the
committee into the hall Arriving in
'front.' OF the altar Gen. Burt. on behalf of
Gen. William F. Barry Garrison. Col.
Theodore Roosevelt Garrison and Admiral
David ID. Porter Garrison of the Army
and Navy Union. asked that the oreaniza-
tions named be given representation on
the memorial committee of the G. A r
BY Il practically unanimous vote the
memorial committee decided to give the
garrlSonS the representation they asked
!or. ana department Commander Wal
ker invited the delegation to seats on
the platform. The representatives Of
the Army and Navy Union who were
present and accepted the invitation
were Gen. Burt of Barry Garrison. DR..
Thacker F. Lee William A. Hickey G.
w Blush and c. F.. Clagett of Porter
Garrison and Capt George L. Snider.
Van n Zahn and William Bailey of
Roosevelt Garrison.
Others who were invited TO seats on
the platform were Department Com
mander f. l.. Cogan of the United Span
1sh War Veterans and Department Com
mander r. c. Galbraith of the Army and
Navy Union.
Past Department Commander Newton
Ferree made some suggestion as to de-
tails for the observance of Memorial
day, and Gen. Burt spoke in thanks
to the committee for it's courtesy to the
committee of the Army and Navy Union
He referred to the lack of reverence for
the veteran soldiers of the civil war
. who had saved the government from
disruption. and said the nation could
never cancel it's debt to the old SOL
diers who went to the front in the six
ties. His remarks and sentiments were
loudly applauded.
Should Prevent Dissertation
Commander Galbraith said laws should
be enacted to prevent the desecration
Of Memorial day. Commander Cogan of
the Spanish War Veterans said the
younger soldiers would follow the lead
Of the venerable veterans of the civil
war. and concluded by saying the aged
veterans in government employ should
be kept on the rolls Of the departments
until they are retired by decree of the
recording angel of death. as the govern
mnnt owes it's existence and it's pros
perity to them.
Commander John G. Maynard of Cen
Schofield Garrison. Regular Army and
Navy Union. said his organization. as
regulars who always obey orders. will
undertake any duty Memorial day
tee He spoke OF the splendid work
OF the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and sailors
in all the wars in which this country
has been engaged" William \. Hickey
advocated the adoption of resolutions
against the Dissertation of the American
flag and uni form.
Commander Charles x piper of Paar