Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-11
WILL OBSERVE
MEMORIAL DAY
OLD SOLDIERS LEAVE ARRANGE
MENTs IN HANDS OF SONS
OF VETERANS.
HARPER MARSHAL
All Plans Have Not Been Made and
Every Civic Organization Is
Urged to Participate In
General Observance.

If the hopes of the committee OF
Sons OF Veterans are realized as ex-
pressed In the meeting held by the
committee named by Edwin H. Emery
and which gathered last night in the
rooms of the Ottumwa Commercial as
ISOLATION, the memorial exercises on
Decoration day 1911, will be like those
of the days some twenty years ago
when patriotism was more prevalent
among the young and old than has
been apparent for the past few years.
The spirit of the occasion seemed to
possess all present at the meeting and
al were Of one accord to bend every
effort to make the celebration or OBJ
servance of the memorial day, one OF
fitting remembrance to the sacred
memory Of those who fought and bled
that the Union might remain intact.
The general feeling among those pres
ent w:S to the effect that the debt
owing to the old soldiers both living
and dead can never be f1ttingiy repaid
except by the proper observance OF
the day dedicated by grateful ma
ton to those whose life and health
was freely given that the nation might
live as a united people. To this end
It was decreed that every civic organ
ization, fraternal, labor or of any type
whatever, be urged to bring the matter
OF cooperation in the observance or
memorial day, into their several
lodges and report as soon as possible
to Chairman E. H. Emery and mem
bers Of the committee of Sons OF Vet
Grams into whose hands was assigned
by the remaining veterans the ar
rangements for the memorial obserV-
ance.
Was Once Big Event.
Few but can remember when the an
uaI parade of Decoration day was the
principal civic event OF the year, ana
All had an equal share In It's observ-
ance, for while primarily Its celebra-
ton was the fitting remembrance OF
the departed soldiery of the nation
it was broad enough to cover the re-
of all departed dear ones
and inspired one to the nobler things
IN life. and the gratitude and affection ,
10 those who were held in high esteem ]
nv their dear ones and the nation at
large.
Capt. Harper Marshal.
Only q part of the arrangements Tor
The DAYS observance was completed
and the speakers for the day have not
as vet been seen and will be announc-
ed later. Mayor S. H. Harper was
made the chief marshal Of the day Il
with T. Holl Spilman and DR.. G. M.
Work as aids. A. w. Enoch was Sc
lected as president of the day and
few minor details were assigned to ,
committees to be worked out and re- ,
ported at the next meeting of the COM
mittee having the arrangement of the
observance in charge. 1t is especially ,
desired that the several secret So
cieties, labor and trades organizations,
as well as all civic bodies cooperate
in making the observance this year
eclipse any previous occasion and bear
toward the now bent and enfeebled
remnant Of the soldiery Of '61-65, a fit
ting tribute to their memory and a
testimonial of the debt that is owing
hem. All such organizations are urg-
ed to take the matter up soon and
make an early report to the general
committee of which Eawin H. Emery
Is the chairman. The line of march
and other details will be worked out
later and report made public. The
other members Of the committee as
sisting Mr.. Emery are ]. f. Powell, J.
K. Dysart, George Miller and J. K.
Mahon.