The National tribune., 1909-06-24
FLOWERS EVERYWHERE.
iiR -rS-
Departments Of tho Potomac and Mary.
land Hold Special Services.

4
Probably there has never been year
in the history. of the Nation when
Memorial Day WAS more generally OBJ
served than this year. From every sec.
ton of the country come reports %
the closing Of business houses the
prevalence of Flags, and a geherai
strewing of flowers upon the graves OF
the dead. 1t is true that families have
adopted the day for their own, whether
any of their loved ones were soldiers
or not, and while the day is meant Tor
the dead of the war of the rebeiilon,
one cannot object to the honoring OF
all the dead, since the graves OF those
who fought for the Flag are remem-
bered with bountiful and beautiful trib-
utes Natures dear children were
never more sweetly fragrant, nor more
lavish in quantity than this year. Time
ly rains and beneficent sun were more
than kind, and 1t was well, Tor In anu
about Washington are nearly bo,ooV
| graves of Union dead, with several
hundred of the Spanisb-American war.
The Department of Potomac, Col. Ed
win H. Holbrook, Department Com
mander, assisted by his competent stan
| of officers. had made the most COM
plete arrangements for decorating tne
graves in 13 cemeteries and the iso-
| lated graves which lie in the various
church cemeteries about the city. CoL
Edwin Sweet was Chairman of this
committee for about the 18th year. All
the statues in the city were draped with
Flags. Although the sun played hlde
and seek with the clouds all day, ana
the latter occasionally wept, the vet
Grams. supported by the Spanish war
Veterans and the Sons of veterans,
marched about a mile before separat-
/ yr<r Z xlxA,r- r.
| form their assigned duties.
The largest crowds gathered at Ar
| lington, as always, for there are some
| $4,000 graves there. Senator McCum-
| ber of North Dakota, was the orator
of the day and the address was mas
| terly one. Senator McCumber has
clear, far-reaching voice and could be
heard above even the noise of the sa-
| luting guns. 1t is said that more
| pleasing orator never spoke at Airing
| ton. The Marine Band was at its best,
under the leadership of Prof. Santel-
mann. The Woman's Relief Corps,
Mrs. Mary A. Dow, President, assisted
by the Ladies of the G.. A. r.. the
Daughters of Veterans, and other pa
| triotic organizations of women, helped
with the decorating, and served lunch
| to all the veterans, as has been the
custom for many years.
Exercises of similar character were
held in each of the 13 cemeteries.
Flowers by wagonloads were furnished
(, by the Agricultural grounds, and the
rain kept them sweet and fresh. Spe-
cial exercises were held around the an
chor. of the Maine, and in the Spanish
War section. Representative Hollings-
worth, of Ohio, was the orator at the
Soldiers Homes and was often inter-
rupted by applause.
On the Sunday preceding Memorial
Day the Department of the Potomac,
Grand Army OF the Republic, and Wom-
ans Relief Corps attended specially
prepared Memorial exercises at the
Eastern Presbyterian Church, which
was handsomely decorated with the
Flags of the T. w. B. Flag Association,
and with cut flowers. The various Posts
of the city held their Memorial exercises
on the Sunday preceding or during the
week.
The Department OF Maryland, Col. B.
F. Taylor, Commander, held its Memoir
ial exercises In Baltimore, in the Odd
Fellows Temple, which had been hand
someIy decorated for that purpose with
Flags and flowers. The opening ad-
dress was made by the Department
Commander, and the rousing Memorial
Day address was made Rev. B. F.
Clarkson, of Veteran Post, of Baltimore.
The music was of high order. and the
reception and salute to the colors was
one of the pathetically interesting fea-
lures.
The Annual Memorial services of Du-
shane Post, of Baltimore. were held on
the Sunday afternoon preceding Me-