The National tribune., 1910-06-30

The Department OF Georgia has
big work to do on Memorial Day, and
not so very many comrades to do it,
If 1t were not for the patriotic organ-
iZationS of women who assist ii would
be pretty difficult matter to accom-
plish. Andersonville Prison Cemetery
is 70 miles from any Post or patriotic
organization, but it is regularly visited
each year by the Posts and patriotic
women of Fitzgerald. Ga, and the sa-
cred duty of decorating the graves
there is performed with a fidelity that
does wonders considering the oppor-
tunities. At an early morning hour
comrades of the Grand Army, members
of the Womans Relief Corps and La
dies of the G.. A. r., with many pa
triotic citizens, all bearing baskets of
flowers, gather at the little depot at
Fitzgerald for the eventful trip. 1t
takes a ride of three hours to reach
the cemetery grounds. All of the a.
900 graves in AndersOnville are deco
rated with flags and flowers before
luncheon time. The luncheon must be
carried with the travellers, as the town
of Andersonville. half mile away, is
only a. little hamlet and would be
gwamped by half a dozen strangers. 1t
must be remembered that these graves
are not the fallen of battle. but are
those unfortunate prisoners of war who
were deliberately tortured and starved
to death. After luncheon, which is par
taken of in picnic fashion,, exercises
are held in the pavilion in the Ander-
sonvilIe Cemetery grounds. Just as the
sun is setting all embark for their
home, reaching it long after twilight
hours, tired but happy that they have
been able to do their sacred duty This
year the graves at Andersonville were
decorated under the direction of Com
u
Grouse Post, of Fitzgerald. Prayers
were made by the Chaplain, l. b. AL
len. The salute to the Flag was given,
and general Memorial Day orders were
read by Adj't NJ. S. Harrod Lincoln's
Gettysburg Address was read by Com
rade C. A. Oliver. Mrs. Mary M. North,
National Patriotic Instructor of the
Woman's Relief Corps, read an original
Memorial Day poem. The address of
the day,twas by Rev. ]. l.. Leichliter.
Especial services were held at the tomb
of the uifflnown' by Ladies Of the Grand
Army Of the Republic. The salute to
the dead was given by the military
company and taps We're sounded by
the bugfer. The music, which was
very beautiful, vas in the hands of the
i''i 'e' - nj
And away down, in Magnolia Springs
Ala, there is grave way out in the
woods, and IN IL their lies the dust of
w. H: $4sson of Co. d, 18th Mich.
Comradg ID. C.o,}8llen, of Co. f, Attn
Mich, who liveg at Magnolia Springs,
h~adstonsi and ID company may with WI i'i1is his
wife andsa friend, Mrs. Brown, went to
the grave on MEMORIAL Day, and cov-
cred it with flowers. and held little
memorial service, the first time that
this has ever been held since that lone
ly grave was made. Comrade Allen
says that he has a flagpole, and that
Old Glory floats over the top of this
fiagpole every day. On Memorial Day
it was half-masted until noon.
Away up in Huron, s. D., AZ old COM
rades, accompanied by the loyal citi-
zens of Huron, marched to the little
cemetery in which 81 veterans lie MUS
tered out, and decorated their graves
with flags and flowers.
Appomattox Post, of I.arimore, NJ D.,
held Memorial Day exercises in their
City Hall, where it was filed to, over
flowing. The memorial address was
delivered by the Rev. DR.. Karr. of PEN
dena, and the address to the Union
dead was made by Prof. Hess, of the