The National tribune., 1910-04-28
MEMORIAL DAY.
The Commander-in-Ch Chief Has Also
Called Attention to Flag Day and
Mothers Day.

L
The Commander-in-Ch Chief Has AIS,
Called Attention to Flag Day ant
Mothers Day.
Headquarters, Grand Army of the Re
public.
Minneapolis, Mimi, April 15, 1910.
General Orders No. 4.
Memorial Day.
Forty-two years of reverent compli
ance with the Order issued by Comrad'
John A. Logan In 1868, while Com
mander-in- Chief of the. Grand Arm,
observance of Memorial Day the eX
preston of a Nations tribute of re
sbect to its deathless dead. This OBJ
iservance will continue not only as Ions
as the Grand Army of the Republic
survives but as long as our people ap
prec;ate the value of the services o.
the men who fought so valiantly ant
sacrificed SO much to save the Ma
ton.
Let us therefore prepare for th'
proper observance of Monday, May 30
1910, as Memorial Day. Department
and Post Commanders will issue the
necessary orders. The work should bt
so well and thoroughly done that nc
Icomrade's grave would be missed, bul
lupon every mound that marks the las
lresting place of our departed and ne
Iroic dead. These men died that the
Nation might live. We honor ourselves
when we pay tribute to their memory
Comrades, while remembering oul
dead, let US not forget the living.
urge you if possible to the exercise
of the greatest charity toward those
who are suffering from disase OF
wounds, and toward all those who by
reason of the infirmities of age are no,
able to support themselves and those
dependent upon them. Others may, but
we should never forget their sacrihces
and brave deeds.
/ 1t is recommended that wherever the
grave of an ex-Confederate soldier Is
found that flowers be placed thereon,
as a tribute to the bravery Of the man
who fought on the other side, remem-
| bering that he, too, was an American
| soldier. We were once enemies but
now friends. - The long dark night is
over at last we are united people.
Out of the darkness comes no echo
of discord between brothers, no noise,
no strife, no bloodshed, but universal
fellowship lights the lamp to guide the
| feet of our young Republic.
Attendance upon divine service on
the Sunday preceding Memorial Day
| is now a part of the regular exercises.
Every Post, accompanied by allied or
ganizations should attend such services
in q body
Patriotic sessions in the public
schools should be held and comrades
detailed to assist the teachers in this
most important and patriotic work, on
the Friday preceding Memorial Day
The address of President Lincoln at
Gettysburg should be read at Memo
rial Day exercises.
nra'c a1i Of
Ladies of the G. A. R., the Sons and
Daughters of Veterans, and all other
allied organizations, should be invited
to participate with Posts on Memorial
Day.
Discountenance all games of sport,
and all kinds of proclamation of the
day, and let US all unitedly strive to
make this Memorial Day universally
observed and one long to be remem-
bered.
Flag Day.
June IA, 1777, the Continental Con-
gress by resolution designated the
Stars and Stripes as the flag of the new
Constellation. Since then "Old Glory"
has led our Armies and Navies in all
our wars, and following it's lead, the
American soldier and the American
sailor has ever been victorious. 1t
symboliZes liberty and union, and its
natal day should be universally OBJ
served. With that object in view the
National Encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic officially recog-
nizes the 14th day of June as Flag
Day"
All comrades, therefore, are request
ed on that day to display their flags
from their homes and places of busi-
ness and urge their friends and neigh
bors to do likewise. In doing this,
you will teach in the most impressive
manner the lessons of patriotism so es-
sential to the Nations life.
20, folds of white and scarlet o, blue
field with your silver stars. May fond
eyes welcome you, willing feet follow
you, warm hearts cherish you, and
dying lips give you their blessing,
Ours by inheritance, ours by allegiance,
ours by affection. long may you float
on the free winds of heaven, the en-
blem of liberty, the hope of the world"
Mothers Day.
The attention of the Grand Army of
the Republic was directed to Mothers
Day" last year by Comrade Henry NJ.
Nevius, then Commander-in-Ch Chief, and
his order is quoted in full as express
ing most beautifully the sentiment of
that day.
Through the instrumentality of Miss
Anna Jarvis, of Philadelphia, Pa, last
year the second Sunday in May was OBJ
served or set apart as Mothers Day,
and services were held in many
churches, and between five and six mil
lions of persons throughout the
United States celebrated the festival
on the second Sunday in May this year
the day will be observed universally
throughout the land and will be
universal fete day for filiai worship.
The white carnation has been selected
to be worn in memory of Mother.
Comrades, there is no class of men
living whose mothers were as patriotic,
loyal and heroic as your mothers from
1861 to 1865. No mothers ever made
such sacrifices as your mothers did,
and the Commander-in-C Chief requests
you on the second Sunday in May to
wear in the lapel of your coat a white
carnation or other white flower to
honor the memory of your own mother,
II deceased, and in reverence for her
IL living"
Who knows better than the members
of our Order, the suffering and scri-
fees made by the mothers of '61 to
65, and who of us can forget their de-
votiop TO the country and the cause
for which we fought. 1t Is safe to de-
clare that without the support of the
brave and patriotic women of the
Union, we never could have succeeded
So. let us again designate the second
Sunday in May as Mothers Day."
and, comrades, let us continue the beau
tiful custom inaGgurated by my prede-
cessor by wearing in the lapel of our
coats on that day a white carnation
or other white flower in honor of our
devoted mothers
BY order of
SAMUEL r. vANSANT,
Com ma N nder-in- Chief