Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-06-15
The Spirit of Memorial Day.

In the REGISTER of June Sth,
there we're published some re-
marks on the manner in which
Memorial Day was observed in
Ironton. I was glad to note that
the writer was in sympathy with
such observance of the day by the
G. A. R. Post and w. R. G. as a
joint memorial to the dead of the
Blue and the Gray, but judge that
for some reason he was unable to
assist in this observance, as his
remarks reveal that he is suffering
from a misunderstanding as to the
reason for the 6 of the red cross
flags in the ceremonies. There
fore a word of explanation may
be of interest.
In the south the day was ap-
propriately observed by veterans
of the Civil War, those of the
north and south marching side by
side to scatter flowers on the last
tenting places OF their former
commandments. This is an
outward symbol of tho inner har-
mony which to-day exists between
these men-American citizens
who formerly submitted their diff
ferences of principle to thearbitra-
ment of war. That these men
sometimes blood brothers, had no
personal ~animosity is true. Such
expressiops ds that of Col. G.. A.
Orr o. Buffalo, N. Y, are not in
frequent. In writing to thank
Partow Walsh of Sumter, S. c.,
for a copy Of the Confederate CAL
endar, he says:
"There never has been any feel
ing among the veterans who
fought on either side. The even
ing of Gen. Lees surrender a
Johnny, as he was called then,
stayed with our company and
shared the last bareback and coffee
we had for several days. Gen.
Grant gave the rations we had at
Appomattox to the paroled John
MES and expected the main wagon
train to come up in a day or two,
but on account of the burning of
the high bridge they did not get
any farther. We had to march to
High Bridge to get supplies"
How many of us who we're in
the Union armies have pleasant
personal recollections of kindness
received from "Johnnies" as we
friendly remembered them. For
myself these include a night spent
in a southern home, while escap-
ing from AndersonviIle prison,
when | was dried, warmed and
physically comforted by a Con-
federate soldier who had lost a leg
in one of his fights with the
"Yanks." Though he knew me
to be an escaping northern soldier,
in the morning he turned me loose
on my way to freedom and felt
himself no traitor to his country
or to his principles; our race
brotherhood being a bond between
US even in the crucial hour when
the fate of the principles for which
we were fighting, was as yet I'M
decided.
How much stronger is this feel
ing to-day when, once more united
in peace, we can pay our tribute
to the valor of our dead comrades,
who, whether they fought by our
side or against us, never ceased to
be our race brothers.
In marking the graves of Con-
federates, it was the desire to
make the ceremonies expressive
of the spirit of which they were
only the outward symbol. Thus
the red cross flag, the emblem
throughout the world of the hui
man brotherhood that lies deeper
than temporary differences, the
brotherhood that outlives strife,
the brotherhood that heals the
wounds of war, was used to mark
the Confederate graves.
LEVI OREN, Commandant
U. S. Grant G.. A. r. Post 579.