Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1910-06-02
DECORATION DAY
OBSERVED BY CITY
PROGRAM CARRIED OUT AT The CITY
SQUARE-BAND, MILITIA AND
SCHOOL CHILDREN PARADE

Decoration Day morning could
not have been better for the open
air program prepared by the citi-
zens of Williston had special
kind of weather been requested.
The sun was shining beautifully,
but not too warm and there was
no disagreeable wind, only cool
breeze, thus the day was an ideal
one for the old veterans as we'll as
the children.
The program proper COM
menced at about 10:45 at the city
square with an address by Mayor
Bruegger. The Mayors talk was
quite brief but was altogether ap-
propriate. He said the purpose
of the gathering was not SO much
to mourn for the dead as to pay
tribute to them and to the living
veterans all of whom had sacri-
feed that the country might live
as a nation and he was glad to see
that there we're more of the veter-
ans present than ever before at
like celebration in Williston.
Mayor Bruegger also acted as
master of ceremonies and at the
close of his talk introduced John
A. Todd, a veteran who read
poem appropriate to the occasion,
after which the band rendered a
medley of national airs, closing
with America and Yankee Doodle.
Attorney Truax Greer was then
introduced by the Mayor and gave
what may be termed the oration
of the day, as his talk was strictly
an grafton and was of some length.
He said we were all proud to be-
long to the same race as those who
had fought and died and those
who had gone through the strug-
gle but were still living. That
the supreme test of the war was
the test of true patriotism and
that none had failed. Mr.. Greer
showed by his utterances that he
belonged to the new generation,
that now sees only the one section,
the whole country, and he dwelt
somewhat at length upon the re-
united people as they now stand
all true Americans and all broth
ers.
The next number on the pro-
gram was very pleasing one, it
being vocal duet, with guitar ac-
compartment by the Misses Seeley,
Miss Vera acting as accompanist.
The title of the song was Noble
Souls; the Boys in Blue,'' and it
was most beautifully and touch
ingly rendered. ..:
After another selection by the
band Rev. w. K. Bloom of the
Congregational church gave
short talk with special reference
to the part taken in the war by
the women who staid at home,
saying they were no less partici-
pants in the struggle.
Rev. Johanson of the ,Norwe-
gian Lutheran church came next
with few remarks of appropri-
alton for America and the part
played in the civil war by the Nor
wegian-Americans, saying many
of the hardy sons of that country !
laid down their lives for the union.
Another unusual feature on the |
program was an effort on the part
of Mr.. Todd to execute the man |
ual of arms" as practiced during |
the civil war, but he was some
what handicapped for room and !
the gun was evidently a little un-
wieEdy for his aging hands to
handle, however he showed he
thoroughly understood the move
ments. "
The program was closed by Rev.
Hollett of the Methodist church,
oy reading letter from the faith
or of VIM. Denney of Williston
yiving the formers war record to
some extent, after which Rev.