The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-29
MEMORIAL IS HELD
BY NATIONAL GUARD
Exercises at Grave of Sergeant
Phil Finch
MAJOR SMITH rs ORATOR
Captain Kennedy, Who Commanded
Company During Spanish-American
War, PresIded-wen Known
Military Men Attend

Impressive memorial exercises were
held yesterday afternoon by the Jefrer-
son County National Guard at the grave
of Sergeant Phillip Nelly Finch, the
only Alabama volunteer who died DUR
ing the Spanish American war. The
occasion was also in honor OF FRANK
Evans, William Perkins and Norton
Whitley, other members of Company "
who have since passed away. Al the
conclusion a detachment of arul-ery'
under Captain Dorrance, fired saiute'
Capt. Hughes B. Kennedy, who com
manded the company while encampeo
in Florida during the late war; and
who inaugurated the memorial services
presided at the grave. The services
were opened with prayer by DIT. 1. ~
steele. pastor of the Cumberland Pres
byterian church, while the members OF
the guard, under the command OF capt
Ike Cole, many onlookers and num-
Der of officers, including Maj. j. D.
Elliot, Capt. E. J. McCrossin, Maj. Roo
ert Gregory, Capt. Robert Mabrey'
Cant. C. S. Price, Lieut.. Ed Anderson
and Lieutenant Hooper, stood with
heads uncovered at the grave.
In speaking of Sergeant Finch, Cap
tain Kennedy stated that he was one
of the most lovable characters he had
ever known; that he had more friends
in the company than anyone else, and
that words were inadequate to express
the feelings of his comrades at his
loss.
He then introduced the orator of the
day, Maj. ]. Q. Smith. who delivered an
Impressive eulogy. Among other things
he said:
TT has been more than IL years
since the Spanish American war began
when the President of the United States
called for volunteers. Your company
was one of the first in the United
states to volunteer its services. The
company at that time WAS ably COM
manded by Capt. Hughes B. Kennedy
Their services were accepted, and on
that beautiful spring morning of May
/. 1898, when the trees were budding
and the flowers were blooming, and all
nature was beautiful, this company as
sembled at the union citation in this
city surrounded by their mothers, wives,
sisters and sweethearts. They depart
ed, some of them never to return.
They were camped at Mobile, Miami
and Jacksonville, Fla, waiting to be
ordered to the front During that time
S{11 90
Among them were Sergeant Phil Finch,
who was loved and respected by every
member of his company. He was a
big. strong, noble young man. the high
est type of our young American ctti-
zens, who sacrificed his life for his
country in the morning of life.
When your company returned after
the conflict was over, Captain Kennedy
set aside the last Sunday of August
of each year to hold a memorial service
in honor of their brave comrades vino
had answered their last roll call. This
beautiful and tender ceremony has been
held each year since.
1T is appropriate and fitting that the
comrades and friends of the departed
dead should gather here on this beauti-
full August Sunday just as summer Is
touching autumn, and at a time when
the whole world is at peace.
THE custom of memorial exercises
originated in the hearts of the widows
and daughters of the Confederate SOL
tense of their most cherished ideals.
1t is fitting that SO beautiful a custom
should have had its beginning In the
south, the land of gallant hearts aid
answering loyalty, of fragrant bios
SONS and high ideals.
when the great conflict was over the
graves of honored dead lined cemeteries
of the south as they did those of the
north, and the loving women of the
southland dressed the last resting
place of their fallen heroes with the
most lovely blossoms their country
could produce. So great was their love
that they made no distinction between
north and south, both shared the man.
tel of flowers that served with its fra
grant folds to take away something OF
the horrors of war memories and wipe
the bitterness of personal and national
loss.
I'm the war of 1898 with Spain there
were principles involved, and the same
spirit. the same patriotism and love OF
country prompted those young men to
take up arms for their country that
prompted the soldiers of the CIVIL war
They were just as brave patriotic and
loved their country in the same way
and just as willing to give their lives.
80, my friends, we are here today
tD commemorate the memory of mer
Who have died in the service of theil
country. The only distinction that car
be drawn Is that they were In differ
ent war at different time with diff
ferent country. They all deserve the
same praise, the same reverence, The
same flowers and the same tears. AL
died in the defense of their country.
1.-THE victory was won. What II
victory like?' said lady to the Duke
| of Wellington. The greatest tragedy
| In the world except defeat
1.-THE war with Spain has passed by
| our great armies were disbanded, theil
tents struck, their campfires put out
their muster rolls laid away. This II
| their camping ground-these whit,
stones and slabs are their tents-thj
list of names we bear in their muster
roll-their campfires yet burp in ou
| hearts.
ITO natures signs of tenderness W,
add our own. Not ashes to ashes, dus
| to dust but blossoms to blossoms, lau
rel to the laureled."
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