The San Francisco call., 1909-06-01
MEMORIAL DAY
EXERCISES FOR
SILENT RANKS
lhrOngs Join Impressive Cere=
mOny in National Cemetery
at the Preside
Flowers Strewn on Water by
Sailor Veterans in Memory
of Dead Comrades

and the white haired veterans of years
gone by at the National cemetery in
The Preside reservation, and, stand
ing with barred heads among the white
stones Of those sacred acres. paid de-
vout tribute to a national memory.
Old Glory, Tapping gently at half
staff from the center of the field. SYM
bolized the heritage of patriotism
which bound together in solemn
thought the heart OF every individual
m the throng. young and old, civilian
and soldier alike. There, beneath the
folds Of the flag. was the temporary
stand upon and around which gath
cred the serried ranks of civil war
veterans, who, though few in numbers
guarded stin with jealous love the
re n 10 scatter flowers upon the graves
former comrades. On this green
2 Inside the principal exercises Of Me-
mortal day in San Francisco were held.
Veterans of the Grand Army OF the
Republic. members Of the various la
dies suxiliaries, Spanish War Veterans.
federal troops, national guardsmen and
representatives OF the Daughters of
the Revolution and the Society of
Wives and Daughters of Mexican War
Veterans participated in the exercises. \
SABUTES FOR HEROIC DEAD
the time that exercises at the ceme-
terry were in progress the thunder of
cannon reVerberated from the various
fOrtifcarons about the bay. the sharp
crash OF minute guns in the Presidio
punctuated the program, and finally
over the graves themselves there
echoed the rattle Of musketry, fired in
Nolieys as a final salute.
At 10 O'Clock the parade formed op-
pOslte the general hospital ia the Pre-
sidio and began the short march to
the cemetery In line We're delegations
OF the Grand Army of the Republic
from Lincoln post. George II. Thomas
post James A. Garfield post and George
O. Meade post. members Of the Womans
relief corps Ladies OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic members of the
woman's auxiliary of the United Span
ish War Veterans, detachments from
ReinhOld Richter camp. Nelson A
Miles camp and 9. II. Riley camp of
the United Spanish War Veterans
United States troops under command
OF Colonel John A. LUndeen. and sew
eral companies OF the national guard
under command Of Colonel c. l. Hewes.
The formal program at The cemetery
was in charge of Hugh T. Slime. chair
man. and George ". Merrill, president /
Of the day.
During the exercises occurred the /
fVer pathetic rOllcall of past sdepart- /
nent commanders of the C. A r. read
hy former Adjutant General Frank !
Miller As the names were called a
few grizzled veterans arose from their ]
places on the speakers stand, -saluted
and answered Here" Another scat
tering Of names was responded to with
- Re brief mention that they were "on
DUTY in some other city. but by far
the majority Of those read were an
swered with the triple roll Of drums.
each instance, at the sound of the
drums. hats were whipped off and gray
heads were for a moment bowed.
BRIEF PATRIOTIC ADDRESS
Following a selected number by the
artillery corps band Chairman Slime
called the assemblage to order and
Rev. Bernard kaplan delivered the in
vocation. George W Merrill COM
mander Of George II. Thomas post,
was introduced as president Of the day
and made a brief patriotic address, in
which he paid eloquent tribute to the
spirit OF the occasion. In part he said:
With increased reverence and greater solemnity
we advance into the cities Of the dead, wander
among the mounds OF clay covering the valiant
comrades. while with intensified affection we
bring the roses and lilies TO cover those hsliowed
graves where ralOr's sacred dust lies sleeping
on this beautiful slope the bones of members
~ heroic army m0ldering back TO dust.
These silent tombs forcibly remind that no
troops can drive grim death away.
The boys of '9s renewed notice TO the
world that there is United States. and that
this continent "a dedicated 10 freedom. When
Tncle sam sounded the bugle for the charge
against the intrenchments OF an antique throne
the men behind the guns wrested the gem OF the
Antilles from the OF a baby king and
SGT II in a dsdem betting the goddess OF lib
erty-
And now 10 those OF our own flesh and blood
~ the same rsce and kin who met in deadly
connict-enemies once, friends today-divided
Tend the right hand Of fellowship into prsc-
ricsl. consolidated. invincibie union.
COLONEL FIFE ORATOR OF DAY
The Star Spangled Banner" was
sung by the Knickerbocker male quar-
tet and Lincoln's Gettysburg address
was read by Henry = Smith. Two
other numbers. Fallen Asleep" and
4 &0ur Heroes" were sung by the Knick-
@egoocker quartet. and Colonel William
J. Fife. former commands OF the First
Washington infantry, was introduced
as orator OF the day.
Colonel Fife paid tribute to Abra-
ham Lincoln. whose name. he declared /
shone out above all other great names
of history as the big light OF liberty
for al ages. and whose memory woulo /
1--we when the memories OF the greatest
monsrchs Of Europe would be lost in
Oblivion. Death. he said. could never
come too soon when death was neces-
S1fE IN Celente OF the liberty OF the
nation. The speaker closed by reciting
2 poem to the flag, written by himself,
and entitled God Bless Our Stars For
ever.
Not alone We're the civil war veter-
ans remembered in the ceremonies. but
thoughts were given as well to heroes
Of the revolution. the Mexican war and
the more recent war with Spain on
fhe speakers stand were Mrs. ". c.
Burnett. president Of the local branch
OF Wives and Daughters Of Mexican
War Veterans; Mrs. James Topley. vice
president. and Mrs n. Hudson. Mrs. NJ
E. Bray and Mrs. Z A. Lawrence. mem
bers Of the organization, and Mrs Rob-
ert Dean. daughter OF the regiment
The Daughters OF the American Revo-
tuition were represented by AIRS. c. FL
wood Brown. regent OF California
chapter OF the D. A r.
MONUMENT Is UNVEILED
While the graves were being deco
rated after the formal exercises had
been held. members OF Nelson A. Niles
camp Of the United Spanish War Vet
ersns assisted in the unveiiing of a
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