Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-06-01
WEATHER IS FINE As
WREATHS ARE LAID
Veneration Marked Observance
of Memorial Day
Soldiers Monument and Graves Were
Decorated by Veterans aided by
Women and Children


tribute to the memory of our fallen
heroes, who offered up their lives
upon the altar of their country s
honor, has come and gone again, and
Lancaster observed the day in its
Characteristic manner Monday, with
all of its sad and sacred features.
Memorial Day of 1910 will go down
in the history of the Grand Army of
the Republic. the patriotic societies
and the city as one of the most salts
factory and successful of all they have
had.
The day was cool but bright and
fair. so there was nothing to interfere
with the days program, which was
carried out as announced in last
week S Herald.
It is more than forty years ago that
memorial customs for Decoration Day
as it was then called were introduced
in compliance with plans made by
Gen. John A. Logan. commander-in
chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic and the G. A. R. has ever
since been to the fore in the cities,
villages and hamlets throughout the
Nation in the exercises perpetuating
the memories of the dead heroes.
With every passing year the ranks
of surviving veterans grow thinner.
and the number of those who are able
to be in the marching column grows
fewer. As one watched the parade
last Monday he was forced to observe
that there was many feeble and
faltering step, the hair and boards of
the marchers vera whittier, and the sad
realization was apparent that some of
the old boys were perhaps keeping
step in the ranks upon Memorial Day
for the last time.
Nearly half a century has elapsed
since the call to arms for the strife
of Civil War, but while the i'm
mutable law of Nature DEGREES that
with the march of years the footsteps
must grow slower and more feeble and
the eyes DINNER, the heart is still
filed with the patriotism that pro-
duced the heroic deeds in one of the
most momentous wars known to human
history. May the day never come
when the people of our nation will
forget their achievements nor fail to
honor their memories.
In the morning the members of the
G.. A. r. post, the Woman's Relief
Corps and the Ladies of the q. A. r.
assembled at the Post hall. and with
the city band and children with
wreaths and flowers. marched to Hill
side cemetery. Here the usual pro-
gram, ending with the decoration of
the graves of our soldier dead, was
carried out.
In the afternoon the exercises at
the Soldiers Monument in the court
yard were held in the fitting manner
which In years has never failed to
leave d profound impression upon the
spectator.
The exercises at Reeds opera house
were attended by large and attentive
audience.
Tbe opening address by Post Com
msnder Theo. Calvin was we'll de-
livered and perfectly suited to the
spirit of the day. This was followed
with vocal music by the Boys Glee
Club, prayer by Rev. Hannaford and
a recitation by Lewis Lisherness.
Then came the address of the day
by Atty. Frank L. Fawcett. of Madi-
son. This was a distinct departure
from the usual Memorial Day speech,
in that the orator devoted little time
reviewing the events of the war. His
theme was rather, the inspiration
toward nobler citizenship that the
generation of today may gain from
this annual observance-in short 1.-THE
message of 61.''
He paid beautiful tribute to the
mothers of the past and present and
outlined the manner in which they.
as we'll as their husbands and chill
dren. may Give for their country in
the same spirit that the heroes of 81
died for it.
To Secretary Elihu Roots nation
saving triad, the church the school
and the flag. the speaker added the
home as being more necessary to a
country's welfare than any of the
others. Upon the homes of the United
States of America is dependent our
future greatness.
In the beginning of the speech
Mr. Fawcett spoke briefly of the
conditions which might have existed
if the Great Rebellion had not
been put down, drawing therefrom an