The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-06-01
SERVICES ARE HELD
IN CITY CEMETERY
Feature of the Exercises Is
Stirring Address of
Colonel Kaighn.
BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE PAID
TO THE LIVING AND DEAD
Flowers Abundantly in Evidence
and Rituals lmpressively
Rendered.

Among the many ceremonies that
took place in the city on Decoration
day In honor of those who marched
away into the land OF silence, mono was
more truly rcvercot and impressive
than the gathering of the old guard
at City cemetery, who answered the
roll call to do honor to their departed.
The rapidly thinning ranks Of the vet
erars. some of them SCARED and dis
membered in the nation s greatest CON
1lict. were in contrast 10 tho ranks of
the soldiers Of tho younger generation,
who also. stood with bowed heads while
The tributes of love and affection were
paid to the dead With these were
the members of the Woman's Relief
Corps and the widows, wives, sweet
hearts and friends of the soldiers.
The cemetery presented scene of
rcstiul beauty which was Intensified by
the many floral tributes. ns the nom.
bers of the Grand Army of the Re,
public. the Woman s Relief Corps and
Tho United Spanish American War vet
Grams formed themselves in a hollow
square about a simple shaft marking
The last resting place of the unknown
dead. in answer to the assembly call
OF the bugle echoing among the tombs.
William Passler, commander Of Max
well post, G. a. r., began the services
by stating the purpose of the assembly.
Then followed the opening prayer and
The ritualistic service at the conclusion
of which The assembly sang Nearer
My God 10 Thee Immediately after,
Colonel M. NJ. Kaighn, past department.
commander for the department of Utah.
q. A. r., delivered the following ad.
dress:
Col. Kaighn's Address.
Comrades and Friends: This Is Memoir
ial day, and all over this broad land, from
The stormy Atlantic to the peaceful Pa
cific. and from the lakes 10 the gulf. In
CITY and town and country. on this day.
patriotic people Will gather in their ceme-
teries 10 do honor To the dead soldiers
OF the republic. or that might: host of
tho army OF the Union in the war of the
rebellion, but six hundred thousand. or
loss than onc-fourth. are now living. and
they arc passing away at the rate OF
fifty thousand y rrar
This is beautiful custom. IL is meet
and proper that the people. and all the
people. who love their country, should
on one day in the year cease from their
usual avocations and reverently gather 80
do honor TO the memory Of the heroic
men. who. in the hour OF the nations
peril offered their services. and, II need
be. their lives, for the preservation of her
integrity and unity. And We gather
mere todaN In performance OF ln1S sacred
duty. with music and flowers and tears
and earnest words, TO honor the nations
heroes whose sacred remains rest in the
hospitable soil of Utah. In honoring them
We most honor ourselves. In May. 1866.
ut the close of the war, it WAS my privi-
]ege TO take part in and witness the
grand review Of some 100000 Union vete-
rams in the capital OF the nation VII
remember how, during three days, they
marched from the great white capitol on
the hill up Pennsylvania avenue. which
1tns- Nj hAHt nj nr oil ..If
Eens. mp TO the White House. where they
wcrc reviewed by the president and his
cabinet.
List Of Great Men.
remember Stanton the iron secretary
or war. Grant, sherman. Sheridan. How
ard, Slocum. Custer. and other great lead
ers. Now ali. alas. returned TO dust. But
while their bodies may moulder In the
iolub their fame and hallowed memory
will live forever in the hearts OF a grate-
fu people.
The brave boys who followed the flag
and served their country In the Spanish
American war, in Cuba and the Philip
pines. many OF whose bodies rest in this
beautiful cemetery. are also entitled 10
or the war Of the rebellion pay willing
tribute 10 these young soldiers % our
rams must take up the burdcns and du-
tics which the older soldcrs Will soon
lay down.
But friends, while. as is most proper.
wc honor the dead soldiers, let MS not
forget our duty TO the survivors. Words
60 cheer and acts of kindness will greatly
zip 10 make their few remaining years
-ichter. happier and more comfortable.
This will be more 10 them while living
than honors when they are cold in death.
do not forget to pay a tribute Of loye
Women's Relief corps and the Circle Of
the Grand Army. They are doing noble
soldiers living and honoring those who are
dead. And they are teaching love OF
country to the present and 10 THO rising
generation. Heavens richest blessing rest
Appreciated Privilege.
congratulate you on the privilege that
You Will have next August. Of receiving
and entertaining many thousands Of the
veterans in thls city II will be a most
! bcspeak for them warm reception.
generous entertainment and "A revelation
to them of tho wonders. delights and re-
sources or this great inland empire OF
Utah. that the descriptions OF which they
will give to their friends on their return
the nation. rebound to the honor. credit
and benefit OF our loved state and her
patriotic people
old soldiers. rest I'm your honorcd
graves eushrncd In the continuing and
Increasing love and honor of your fellow
citizens.
The closing prayer was then delivered
by Colonel George r, Squires, after
winch the WfeathS OF lmnloflelles ana
laurel were placed on the shaft 20 the
unknown dead by the Grand Army men
and the members of the Women's Re-
lief Corps. The assemblage then sang
"Amcrica' and recited in unison the
'Jord S prayer. after which the rit-
ualistic services of the United Spanish
american War Veterans was given. The
firing Of the salute TO the dead by the
firing squad Of the Utah National Guard
concluded the official exercises of the
dav.