Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-30
FLAGS AND FLOWERS ARE
PLACED ABOVE GRAVES
Four Senators Among Speakers Who
Voice the Nations Homage.
THE PROGRAM AT ARLINGTON
Shaft Erected by the Colonial
With Spain Is Dedicated.
Memorial day. 1910.


This day has been consecrated by the
American republic TO its patriotic soldier
ard sailor dead With it there is much
that is inspiring. much that is pathetic
and much that IS revered IT is cold
nature that could look today upon the
rapidly thinning lines of veterans of the
civil war as the venerable fighting men of
another century marched over the streets
OF Washington with no STRINGS OF pa
triotism at the visible reminder OF the
cos: of the Union, and no pity for the age
that has crept upon the vigor OF its pre-
servers.
The thin blue line that proceeded to AT
hngton and other sleeping places of the
soldier dead in this vicinity brought upon
the focus of memory views of the awful
harvest of death in the sixties and since
the fearful price paid in human lives for
the inestimable boon of national indivisi
bility.
Half million boys in blue were slain in
battle or died of wounds, disease. or in
prison. Since the close Of the civil war
the deaths OF veterans have passed the
appalling total of more than 100000.
many of them result OF the rigors of
service or wounds received On the firing
line. To be accurate. the number of
deaths since the war has been 1,lO5.5S4.
d.
the country is paying grateful homage to-
day. while the survivors of the magnif-
icent infantry of Grant and the dashing
troopers of Sheridan, now but the fading
shadow of the once great host lovingly
strcw blooms OF spring upon the low
mounds IN the cemeteries in the District
as well as those IN every part OF this
country.
Forget-ke-Nots Favorite Flower.
o--ese-rrl
today. 1t embraces within its delicate
folds both the sentiment. remembrance,
AMI the color blue. that symbolic Me-
mo-isl day. 1t is the subject of q me-
mortal hymn written by DIR. Thomas Cal
ver and sung at Arlington today, while
Department Commander Henry A. john
son and other officers of the G. A. r.
wore blue forget -me-nots on their coat
lapels.
Forget me-not. those green mounds seem TO say
Forget not the very breezes sigh:
Rememprance breathes a halowed song today
O'er every grave where honored heroes lie.
Tie observances at all the cemeteries
in the District and al Arlington and the
Battle Ground out Brightwood avenue
the several points included four United
States senators-Bradley of Kentucky.
Depew of New YORK, Hepburn OF Idaho
and Brown of Nebra ska-while Repre-
ton spoke at the exercises held by the
Spanish War Veterans at the shaft at
Arlington dedicated by the Colonial
Danes to the dead Of the war with
Spain. Judge Thomas II. Anderson OF
the District bench was one of the orators
at the Battle Ground cemetery, and DR..
William a. White, superintendent of the
Government Hospital for the Insane. ad-
dressed the gathering In the cemetery at
that institution. Several wagon loads Of
flowers were employed to decorate the
graves at the different cemeteries, and
small American flags were placed over
each mound as silent reminders of the
cause fca' which the soldiers and sailors
fought and died.
At the close of the ceremonies at Ar
lington Department Commander Henry
A. Johnson and Asst. Adjt Gen. o. H
Oldroyd OF the G. a. r. expressed them
selves we'll pleased with the splendid
manner in which all the details were car
ried out.
This brings back memory pictures OF
the past and can see IL all over again.
war-scarred veteran of the Army OF the
Potomac said as he contemp!atvely gazed
over the wide eXpanse al Arlington dot
ted with small white headstones. And
then the thunder Of the national salute
BY Battery VI, United States Field Ar
tillery. oIn the crest OF a we'll worn war
time fort nearby made the memory pic
lures more vivid.