The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-06-03
MEMORIAL EXERCISES
An Inspiring Program Worthy the
Day and the Men.

Sunday, May 30th was observed as
Memorial Day bv the old soldiers of
Oskaloosa and vicinity and day more
appropriate or better suited to the oc-
casion could not have been selected.
& The program seemed more appropri-
ate and better. the crowds in attend
ance were greater and closer in
trest was observed than upon pre-
vious Memorial days. The weather
was all that could have been desired.
The storm of the preceding evening
had cleared away and the, day was
bright and sunshiny and not too
warm for comfort.
The program was held at Forest
cemetery, where crowd OF from five
to seven thousand people gathered to
listen to and participate in program.
The ritualistic service was conducted
at the floral cross at the soldiers lot
The graves OF the old soldiers have
been appropriately marked with ma
tional coiors and the decoration COM
mittee had done it's full share of be-
slowing floral tributes to each. In
many cases individuals added to the
decoration otherwise done.
The Parade.
The parade was unusually good and
was witnessed by thousands of people
along the line of march. The parade
was headed by Chief Marshal Henry
e. Snider and aides.
John N. Martin, James Loughridge
and s. j.. Dutton, followed by the Iowa
Brigade Band, which seemed inspired
by the occasion to unusually excellent
effort. Company f, |. N. G. turned
ont large representation and was
followed by the OSkaloosa drum corps
which made stirring music, dividing
time with the band.
The old soldiers. of wholn more than
one hundred were in line. attracted
attention and the spectators along the
line of march were frequently moved
to applause for the old veterans. Hats
were off all along the line and other
marks of admiration, respect and rev.
erence were shown. The soldiers
afoot were followed by conveyances
with a number of the Old guard the
flower girls, ladies' and speakers OF
the day. The parade is said to have
been the best seen locally in many
years.
Arrived at the cemetery and all OF
the decorating of graves having been
accomplished, Major John F. Lacey,
who as Post Commander was master
of ceremonies, entered Immediately
upon the program as arranged for the
occasion. A stand had been erected
for the speakers east of the soldiers
lot and near the cannon overlooking
the place. The stand faced the drive
way at the southeast of the fountain
oval and gave opportunity to the
thousands of people to hear the pro-
the south of the platform and the old
veterans were given choice of position
and were grouped at the front and
the side of the speakers stana, where
they would be in front of the speaker.
On account of the somewhat strong
wind that was blowing at the time
the addresses were made from the
northwest corner of the stand and
the words were plain to those on the
outskirts of the big crowd.
The Program.
The crowd quickly accommodated
itself to the conditions presented and
Major Lacey lost little time in enter
ing upon the program. A selection
by the Iowa Brigade Band was follow
ed by quartette, Mrs. Virginia
Knight Logan. Miss Hazel E. Phillips.
Clifford Johnson and DR.. J. |. Tony.
Invocation was pronounced by Rev.
S. H. Zendt Of the Christian church.
b, The memorial orders for the u. A.
r. were published by Adjutant w. X.
Cowan, of Phil Kearney Post. He
was followed briefly by Commander
Lacey, who called the attention to the
appropriateness of the day and the
date and the number of coincidents
of that date, May 80, that concerned
Oskaioosa soldiers. The reading OF
the Gettysburg address by Abraham
Lincoln. which is part of every
Memorial day program. was done by
Rev. j. B. Adkins. OF the Congrega-
tional church.
Mr.. Mabry's Address.
Following another selection by the
quartette Major Lacey introduced
Hon. ]. c. Mabry, of Abba, who gave
the Memorial address. Mr.. Mabry is
well known in Oskaloosa and much
was expected of him upon this occa.
sion. The orator met every expecta-
uon and he made the most of his OPP
portunities. He gave an intense ad-
dress. He felt what he said and he
made his hearers feel it. 1t was brim
full of sentiment inspired by the oc.
casion and held the closest of atten-
ton throughout. The speaker was
frequently applauded.
Mr.. Mabry opened his address by
calling attention of the sacredness OF
Memorial day and appropriateness or
having the observance upon Sunday.
He. stepped aside to comment upon
the general popular Dissertation of the
Memorial day and his sentiments ex-
messed met with the hearty annrOval