Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-06-02
RAIN 3 S PROPER OBSERVANCE
Memorial Day Program is Rendered al
Tabernacle

The solemn annual Memorial day
celebration was considerably interfered
with here in Niroqua by reason of
heavy rain. The spirit of the day was
abundantly manifested, however, by
profuse decorations. "Old Glory, ;,
large and small, waved to the breeze
from every point and the awnings and
store fronts were festooned with and
smothered in hunting As the after
noon wore on. the rain proved conclu-
slvely that the red, white and blue
is not absolutely loyal and, under Ger
tain conditions, will run shamefully.
Awning owners learned this with regret.
Preparations were made as usual. to
march in a body to the cemetery and
hold the exercises there But it be-
came apparent from the lowering clouds
that rain storm was imminent and the
partially formed procession, under the
direction of II. + Proctor. Sr., fell in
behind our Third regiment band and
proceeded To the tabernacle, completely
filing that commodious structure. The
first numbers ON the program were exc
cuted as slated patriotic music by the
band the G. A L. ritual. singing by
the schools OF that heart throb from an
inspired pen THE Star Spa agIed Ban
ner, and Kenneth Smith S mn .::..s-i, IS
rendition of Abraham Iincoln's Get
tysburg masterpiece. Shortly after
Rev. Hartwell commenced his address,
the stern broke over the city and the
continuous rolling of thunder and dash
ing of rain caused the major part of
the audience to lose large portion of
his woni pictures. though he endeayored
mlnfully to cope with the situation.
The greater part of Mr. Hartwell s
lecture was devoted to the sacri~
fees which the war entailed, not alone
upon the active soldier buc upon the
ones who suffered silently in weary
waiting at home in the north. And
this is indeed as it should be We, who
are far removed from the horrors of
battle field and the heart t-siclI days of
forced march and prison pen, are want
to harp loudly of the glory and grandeur
attendant on victory. All this is but
dazzle and dross. The whole strength
Of people lies in its ability to sacri-
flee much and complain but little. Thisit
was which brought us safely through
such times as we most earnestly pray
may never be again visited upon this
people. And this it is which deserves
the strongest eulogy
All endeavor to conclude the program
in the scheduled manner was abandoned
and, after few excellent and appre-
ciated selections by the band and the
benediction by Rev Buffers, the as
semblage dispersed
The flower girls deposited their bas-
kets on the platfo. n, and the beautiful
heap of fragrant blooms, so expressive
of peoples love for the sons who
preserved their country in union and
continued IL in unity, were later taken
to the cemetery and tenderly strewn
above the sleeping boys in blue. Earth
er down toward the Mason and Dixie
line, northern hands were heapirg gar
lands Ger forms that once wore the
grey and southern tears rendered more
precious the flowers Oh federal graves
oh, let US catch the full significance Of
the sacred day; let us learn well the
message it brings:
No more shall the war cry sever.
Or The winding rivers be red;