The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-01
PARADE IS MOST IMPOSING HELD
 IN MANY YEARS
Civil War Veterans Turn Out ITO Strong Supervisor Went Marshals 65O
 School Bays.
Address is Briefly Made by Commander Ruggles of Elias Howe IT,, Post, GAR - Grand Marshal Hurley Makes Record For Prompt Movement of Column.

l Age and youth, the soldier with his | record accomplished and the soldier with his record yet to be made, march ed in the finest Memorial Day parade that this city has known in many years. Crowds lined the way of the column. Some 3O,OOO people were thought to be assembled in Seaside Park where the exercises were held at the Soldiers Monument.
 The police headed the parade in five platoons. They made an excellent showing. The veterans turned out ITO strong. Fully two-thirds of this num- Der refused carriages and took their place in the column. The Sons of Veterans and the Spanish War Veter- The feature of the third division was $50 school boys under Supervisor liar vey c. Went. Prospect, Barnum, Wal tersville and Lincoln schools carried off the prizes for the greatest num- Der of boys in line. Each of these schools had two companies of 55 boys each.
 Under the direction of Grand Mar shal James J. Hurley the column started on time, and the exercises at the park were carried out as planned. The address was by E. L. RuggleS commander of Elias Howe, Jr, Post, G. A. R., who spoke as follows:
 city of Bridgeport, and friends Of the Grand Army of the Republic:
 "As the commander of Elias Howe. Jr., Post, I welcome you in the name of my comrades, to this public ser vice.
 gro us this is the memorial day of stalwart bravery, patriotic heroism and of national faith. It is the day of freedom for a race emancipated from bondage, and of a nation redeem ed from iniquity.
 ''It is dear to every soldier and fy, 1 o~fS n brave and our beloved, the Grand Army of the Immortal; and that mem ory makes precious to us the badge we wear upon our breasts.
 we stand today by the shrine of all that is sacred, glorious and heroic. that which is implanted in our minds as memory forces open the gates to our affections; the fountain of adoration; the well spring of our soul gives forth our great love for the heroes that lie buried here; for what: The lives they sacrificed to perpetuate this the great est republic of the world today, and as that noble patriot, Lincoln, has said. that martyrs who fell by the traitors hand to be lad away like these, you have this day so lovingly remembered and whom you have shown your grat- itude and remembrance. We cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men living and dead have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. It Is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us: that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the best full measure of devo- tiOn.
 'tChildren of our public schools, I wish to thank you in behalf of my comrades of the Grand Army for the part you have taken in this days ser vices. It has made a bright spot in our lives and we hope you will keep up your good work. It will not be many years before some of you will have to do this duty of love, for our dead heroes, and we hope when that time shall come you will be ready and willing to take our place in this noble work of love for our comrades of the war.
 May God bless and keep you"