Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-05-27
Will OBSERVE -
MEMORIAL DAY
BY Paying Tribute to Memory
of Our Heroic Dead
MEMORIAL ADDRESS
BY Ex.G0v. ADAMS

Citizens, Civic Societies and Resi-.
dents Of NeiEhborinG Valley
Towns Invited to Join
- Old Veterans.
If weather conditions permit the
Memorial Day celebration in this
city next Monday will be the best
attended and most successful that
has ever been held in Rocky Ford
Not only have the members OF Wads-
worth Post, G. A. R., and lady aux
Hilary orders been working eariestiy
toward this end. but civic societies.
business men and citizens appear to
he taking a greater interest than
heretofore and the day will be ftly
observed. Everything in the way OF
sports and games that might detract
from the proper observance OF Me
mortal Day have been placed under
the ban, and the business houses gen.
orally will observe the day by clos
ing their doors, so that everyone may
ioin with the old veterans IN rever..
ance to the memory OF the departed
Representatives of the G. A. R. will
TODAY accompany the Fourth OF July
boosters upon their visit to the
neiphboring town of the valley for
the purpose Of extending an invita-
ton to visit Rocky Ford on Memoir
iai Day and join US in the exercises
and as the news is spread that so
distinguished a speaker as ex-Gov.
Adams will deliver the address: IS
believed that a great number OF out
of-town visitors will be present.
According to the present plans the
81
W. R. c. will meet at I. Q. o. F:
hall at $40 Monday morning and
proceed from there to Valley View
cemetery, where the Post will have
its services and a special committee
of young ladies' will decorate the
graves. Every person who can do
SO is urged to bring all the flowers
they can to the hall in the morning.
0he afternoon exercises at
o'clock are as follows:
Formation of the, parade on North
Main street, and march to City Park.
Music by the band.
Opening prayer, Rev. Beaver.
Preliminary remarks by Comrade
Minor. introducing Miss Hall. who
will render "Linesln's Gettysburg
Address" :.
Producing the speaker, ex-'oS.
Adams.
Music by the band.
Exercises by the ladies, decorating
the graves Of the unknown dead:
Closing exercises. strewinG howers
upon the water at the Rocky Ford
ditch, all taking part.
orikiu Of Memorial Dsy
u.uo.;,i nav vas formally estab-
I;shed by the following order OF Com
mander-in-C Chief John A. Logan:
Headquarters Grand Army OF the
Republic, Adjutant- Generals Of-
6ce, a46 I4th street. Washington,
D. C.. MAY. S. 1853.
General Orders. No. II.
81. The goth day OF May. 1868. IS
designated for the purpose Of strew-
ing with flowers or otherwise deco
rating the graves of comrades who
died In defense of their country dur
ing the late rebellion. and whose bod
les now lie in almost every city. VII
iage and hamlet churchyard in the
land. In this observance no form OF
ceremony is prescribed, but Posts
and comrades will in their own way
arrange such fitting services and tes-
II onials of respect as circumstances
may permit.
Ee are organized, comrades. as
our regulations tell us. for the pur-
pose. among other things, OF preserv,
ing and strengthening those kind and
fraternal feelings which have bound
together the soldiers. sailors and ma
rines who united to suppress the late
rebellion What can aid more to as
sure this result than by chcrishing
tenderly the memory Of Our heroic
dead, who made their breasts barri-
cade between our country and its
foes. Their soldier lives were the
reveille of freedom to race in
chains, and their deaths the tattoo of
rebellious tyranny In arms. We
should guard their graves with sac
red vigilance. All that the consc-
Grated wealth and taste of the Ma.
ton can add to their adornment and
security is but a fitting tribute to the
memory of her slain defenders. Let
no wanton foot tread rudely on such
hallowed grounds. Let pleasan,
paths invite the coming and going oi
reverent visitors and fond mourners
Let no vandalism of avarice or neg.
lect, no ravages of time, testify tc
the present or to the coming genera
tions that we have forgotten as a peo.
pie the ocst of a free and undivided
Republic.
: "If other eyes grow dull. and 9th.
. er hands slack, and other hearts cold
in the solemn trust, ours shall keep 4
we'll as long as the light and warmth
Of life remain TO us.
LET us, then. at thd time appoint
ed, gather around their sacred re-
mains and garland the passionles.
mounds above them with the choices
flowers of Springtime: let us raist
above them the dear old Flag the,
saved from dishonor: let US in thi:
solemn presence renew our pledge tt
stOand assist those whom, they have