The National tribune., 1909-05-06
MENoRuAL DAY.
National Presidere Gilman and Many
DcpartmenA. Presidents Issue Cen
eral Orders. for Observance OF Ma
uonal Sab,>tb ef the Dead.

erai Orderss for observance OF Ma
tiOnal Sabbath ref the Dead.
The Memorial Day order Of the Ma
tional President of the Woman's Reiief
Corps, Mrs. Mary l.. Gilman, should De
an inspiration for every member OF the
order. Of this day which should be
kept sacred BY all loyal people, and de-
voted to service for and tender mem
ories of the dead of the great war, Mrs.
Gilman says:
What a blessed boon it is to the
cause of patriotism and what splendid
example it presents for the emulation
of the youth of our dear land! In its
observance are combined praise and
thanksgiving to God for this great and
free country, and honor ana reverence
to the men who saved it.
Though 40 years have elapsed since
its institution, there Is no sign OF de-
creasfng interest on the part of the
public: rather is it marked by such a
wonderful increase. that in all this
broad land scarcely village can be
found whose inhabitants fail to give 1t
a proper observance.
ITO this remarkable growth the
Woman's Relief Corps has largely con-
tributed in the past, nor shall it relax
its efforts to make the Memorial Day
of the future sacred to the memory of
Lincolns soldiers
"As we have done so shall we con-
tinue to do. Let every Corps through
out our land join with its Post in at
tending divine service on Memorial
Sunday. Gather in the children above
all others, for they are the coming men
and women. Put flags in their hands
and patriotic songs in their mouths,
and enlist their personal interest by
giving them part in the exercises and
thus insure their development into
good citizens in time of peace and good
soldiers in time of war
Help the Posts in every way in
which women can be helpful. Raise
funds for their necessities Supply
flowers for the graves of their heroic
dead. Whenever possible furnish them
with good dinner and serve 1t with
your own hands. Procure a new Post
flag where the old one is past service.
Scatter flowers on the bosom of the
broad ocean and the inland seas in
honor of the gallant sailors who found
watery graves while fighting for the
Stars and Stripes
While honoring the memory of the
men who fought and suffered and died
for our grand Republic, do not forget
the graves of those who abandoned the
pleasures and comforts of their homes
to care for those men, to bind up their
wounds, to cool their parched tongues,
to lave their fevered bodies, to take
their dying messages and to close their
eyes in death, the loving, gentle, self
sacrificing bearers of Gods gracious
mercy, the sanity Army Nurses.
Invite the Sons and Daughters of
Veterans to cooperate with you in this
glorious work, for in their veins flows
the blood of the men whose memory
you venerate.
I'm that sunny Southland whose soil
was REDEEMED with patriot blood lie
100000 Union soldiers whose graves
would be neglected on Memorial Day
but for the flags supplied from the
Southern Memorial Fund. The Com
mander-in-Chief announced that the
sum at present in that fund is entirely
forathe demand that will be
made upon II.
Members of othe Woman's Relief
Corps. in such a holy cause you were
never known to fail. See to 1t that
your contributions are so generous as
will excite the admiration OF the COM
rades for their one faithful Auxiliary"
The order is countersigned by Maria
w. Going. National Secretary.
Mrs. EliZabeths P.l Sawyer, Depart
ment President of Massachusetts, calls
attention TOT the 41st observance Of the
day, and says: syeE Sis1 .aa
Precious, indeed. are the memories
that cluster around our work for Me-
mortal Day-memories that speak of
valiant deeds. Of sublime courage and
Of great results that have added to the
wealth and grandeur Of the Nation"
Mrs. Sawyer calls on all who live
near the inland rivers. or the sea, to
prepare tributes for the "sailor sol
diers." She also requests that "chil-
dren be interested In the work and
of the day that they may
be impressed with the noble principles
upon which 1t is founded and realize the
value of the services OF soldiers and
sailors who defended the Union" Mrs.
Sawyer also calls for faithful recogni-
ton of the devotion of our Army
nurses. She also commends the grow
Ing custom Of decorating cross to the
Of the Unknown Dead. The
General Order bears again the sigma
ture of Miss Mary Elliott, for 20-odd
years Secretary Of the Department of
w. r. C., and 1t looks
good to her old friends who missed her
last year. rss sS r.f.4
From far off California comes the
Memorial Day order Of Mrs. Alice M.
Gillett Department President and
by Mrs. Harriet q. Hills,
Department Secretary. Mrs. Gillett
says. in part:
Memorial Day. with its sweet, sad
memories. is once more approaching,
and as we. the members Of the Worn
ans Relief Corps. reverently twine cur
lowers into garlands in the sacred
memory of those of the veterans, who
In their early manhood, gave them
selves a willing sacrifice on the altar
Of patriotic devotion, let us renew
again our allegiance to those, who are
still left, for us to serve. 1t Is fitting
hat Memorial Day be held sacred, and
The people who now enjoy the fruits of
hat awful sacrifice during the years
from 81 to '65. would indeed be un-
grateful II they did not honor our SOL
1ier dead who are Sleeping the sleep
hat knows no waking"
Mrs. Gillett also requests that chill
iren be particularly Interested In the
lay: that Army Nurses graves be cov-
sred with sweet flowers in memory OF
heir heroic sacrifices; that he Corps
attend Memorial Day services on Sun
lay preceding; requests her Corps to
1o,d services Tor their dead of the year,
Ind urges that all contribute liberaIly
70 the Memorial Day fund for the
south.
Mrs. Edith Mason, Department Pres
cent OF ONO, urges general observance
'f the National Sabbath.
Memorial Day cannot fail to i'm
press upon all the fact that Death has
aid Its hand heavily upon the veterans
u the civil war. Oniy yesterday the |
'leepers on the silent hillsides, who in
'uch quiet restfulness lie in the hush
u m peace Were rugged young men with