Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-06-04
MEMORIAL DAY
FITLY OBSERVED
Old Soldiers Make Their An
nual Visit to Cemetery.
DECORATE GRAVES
OF OLD COMRADES
Who Have Answered the Last Roll
Il call-Buslness Houses Closed and
Citizens Observe the Day.

Citizens Observe the Day.
Memorial and Decoration Days were
more closely observed than ever before
and it is fitting that this date-whieh a
few years ago was only observed by
those who had lost relative or friend in
the Civil war and by the G. A. R.-should
now be national holiday. when every
one makes journey to the "City Of the
Dead, there to drop a silent tear and
place a bit of bloom upon the last resting
place of a relative or dear friend who has
"gone before.
In Rocky Ford the day was generally
observed by pilgrimage of the people
on Sunday to Valley View cemetery and
to City Park. where they listened to an
eloquent Memorial Day sermon by the
Rev. A. H. Beaver.
Bright and early on Monday morning
the G. A. r. and associate lady orders
gathered at !. o. o. F. hall and-their
lines augmented by large number Of
citizens and children at about o'clock
marched out to Valley View cemetery.
where the graves were decorated and the
beautiful exercises commemorative Of
those who had passed away were held
by the "old veterans.
Because Of the intermittent showers
the services in the City park were called
of and about 900 p. m. the members of
Wadsworth Post. G. A. R.. Ladies of the
c. A. R. and W. r. c. marched to the
Methodist Church whero pa:riotic music
was pleasingly rendered and Rev. F. w.
Otto delivered an Grafton especially pleas
licg to the little remnant Of those who
Ocok part in the stirring scenes OF '6l TO
'65.
Memorial Day was established in 1866
by the Grand Army OF the Republic.
The setting apart of a day to decorate
with flowers the graves OF those who
gave their lives in order that the Nation
might live and otherwise to honor in an
appropriate manner the memory OF the
Patriot dead. was one Of tho first public
acts Of the new order. The date was
fixed late in May because it was then
that the vernal season was far enough
advanced to assure pleasant weather and
an abundance Of flowers for the exercises.
The organization Of the G. A. R. itself
was in part to commemorate the events
Of the war. but tho establishment Of a
Memorial Day was to give an outward
expression Of the feeling Of fraternity
which the living felt for the heroic dead.
The Grand Army Of the Republic had not
been in organized existence over four
months when its commander and founder
DR.. 3. F. Stevenson, issued an order to
the members to decorate with flowers
the graves Of the dead and designated
May so as a suitable time. The date
has never been changed.
A report made in 1873 showed the
number of @. A. r. members to be less
than 10000. BUT after that year the
order began to grow and from that time
IN until the close Of the century had a
phenomenal growth reaching in !eee'
10000 and nearly 100000 eight or
nine years ago. From that time until
the present the number of active mem
bers has been decreasing, but not from
lack of interest or patriotism. but from
the rapidly increasing death roll Of the
veterans. none of whom are now less
than 81 years old.
The Grand Army Of the Republio has
successfully accomplished the purpose Of
its organization. It has taught patriot
ism and loyalty and these sentiments are
especially strong among its member 5.
It has taught fraternity and it is well
known that the feeling among Grand
Army men. one for the other. is very
brotherIy. 1t has helped in many ways
to promote in a legitimate manner, the
material and business interests of its mem.
bers and it has secured liberal action by
congress in the matter OF pensions.
Whether the founders Of the G. A. f
bui'ded better than they knew cannot be
said, but they attempted much and build
ed well. In tie course Of nature it can
not be many years before the Grand
Army of the Republic ceases to exist
but its work will be carried on by the
sons and daughters of the veterans anc
by their grand children to remote genera
tons.
Since June ! John Wisda has beer
acting as assistant water commissioner
vice J. L. Kellogg resigned. John is TAX