The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-06-02

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Monday a little band Of men nineteen
in number. all that is left in this COM
munity Of a mighty host that marched
nearly half a century ago under the flag
of the Union gathered in front of G..
A. +. headquarters in Oakland and IN
der the same banner marched again.
This time not as warriors but as peace
full citizens on a mission of love and in
memory of that grand army Of men
who have passed away and lie buried in
almost every hamlet, city and town of
the country, concentrating the sad
dest and yet the most beautiful Of all
national holidays Memorial Day.
These nineteen battle Scared vet
Grams. some Of whom were barely able
TO wend their way to the cemetery,
were escorted by hundreds of children,
the Knights OF Pythias and the Noun
tain City Band leading the procession,
where the graves Of their deceased
comrades were visited and streUn with
flowers. The Post was under the com
mand Of Capt. J. N. Jarboe, the illness
of Col. Sturgiss preventing hum from
assuming command.
While the weather bureau sars out a
warning Sunday afternoon that Mon
day would be stormy, the day dawned
beautifully i not until after the SER
vices were concluded at th4 Cemetery
and the hundreds Of visitors to that
point had returned to their homes did
the predictions Of the weather man
come true when rain descended and
the afternoon was disagreeable to the
utmost degree
At the cemetery the usual ceremonies
Of the G. A. R. were carriediout. That
portion of the service wherein a mound
representing the unknown dead was
decorated and about which the crowds
gathered, being the most impressive.
Here the public exercises under the g..
A. r. regulations were held, after
which Rev. G. r. Williamson, pastor of
St. Paul's NJ. E. church, addressed TIE
assemblage.
Mr.. Williamson's address was deliv-
cred extemporaneously and along
original lines and was listened to atten-
lively By all present. He dwelt with
Memorial Day from the modern stand
point Of united country. He said the
first Memorial Day occurred forty-two
years ago, under an order issued by
Gen John A. Logan, then Commander
in-Chief of the Grand Army. Then the
marching columns going out to decorate
the graves of their deceased comrades
were composed of Young men. or at. the
most men in the prime of life. Then
the swing Of the veterans was rhyth-
matte, the heart strong, the face serene;
now the lines waver, the wrinkles in
the faces of the surviving comrades
show the rayages of time and thousands
of those who were privileged to march
in the first Memorial Day parade have
blvouaced in Eternity, there to answer
the last roll call.
The old guard is dying off at the rate
of one every twelve minutes; FIVE an
hour, or more one hundred each day,
and there are less than 575, 900 of them
left. Dying at the rate of 100 each day
in less than fifteen years the Grand
Army will be thing of the past with a
few comrades here and there to tell the
story of their wonderful warfare. Con
tinuing Mr.. Williamson preached the
feasibility of starting a movement look
ing to the erection of a monument on
the court house square as a memorial
to the soldiers of Garrett comfy. His
suggestion found hearty accord among
hearers and within a short time meet
ing will be held for the purpose of form
ing an association to carry out the plan.
The cemeteries in Oaklend never
looked pretter than they did on Monday.
Nearly every lot owner visited the plots
wherein their loved ones are inferred
and had them put in excellent order.
With this spirit kept alive the Oakland
cemeteries will soon be what they