Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1911-06-02
MBMORIAL and
DECORATION DAYS
Appropriately Observed by
the People of Rocky Ford
FLORAL TRIBUTE
TO SOLDIER DEAD

Citizens join with Ih1nntne Ranks OF
the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie In Doing Honor to the
Departed Heroes
Where the flowers in their beauty set
the woodlands all aglow,
And the crystal rivers laughing to
the distant oceans flow,
Where the bees are in the clover and
the sun of summer shines,
And the shadows on the grasses are
the shadows of the pines
CONS people forth to duty meath
the banner of the stars,
And the nation weaves chaplct for
the heroes of her wars;
For the men who went to battle, for
the tender and the true
Who are sleeping in the sunshine in
their uniforms of blue.
Gently from the hands of beauty
love-invested flowers fall
Not a hero's grave is missing. there
is love enough for all;
Blossoms fair for those who battled
where the British guns grew
still,
And a people rose to grandeur from
the slopes of Bunker Hill!
Roses red and white for thousands
who at home and far away,
In the shadow and the sunshine,
camp forever and day;
Let the Southland's proud palmetto
touch the Northland's gentle
pine,
Where the birds. are singing swectly
on the battles ghostly line.
The veteran crowns his comrade to
the music OF the drum,
and will for years to come;
In the cycles still before US, in the
centuries to be
The rose will fall upon the brave
who rest twixt sea and sea;
And Columbia, faircr. greater, as she
n mounts the heights Of fame,
Will carve on her rcsplendcnt shield
with pride each hero's name;
And the tide that rushes outward to
the. countries far away
Will tell the beautcous story Of our
lands Memorial day.
-. It. c. Harbaugh.
Memorial services were held in the
Methodist church last Sunday morn
ing, and many gathered to share and
have part in the service of sermon and
song doing honor to the brave deeds
of the sixties.
With head bent and feeble step the
local remnant of the noble old guard,
with their wives and helpmates who
compose the membership Of the Lad
les of G. A. X. and W. X. c.. gath
cred at the sanctuary to pay tribute
of brotherly affection to their hon.
orcd dead.
A patriotic hymn beautifully render
cd by Mrs. Homer Collins, and ap-
propriatc music by the church choir,
composed the service of song. and an
affecting sermon was preached by
the pastor. Rev. y. L. Orton, from
the text, "And This Shall Be Memoir
ial Day for You" The closing ad-
monition was somewhat as follows:
go, soldiers. and with tender mem.
orics decorate Tuesday the graves OF
your departed comrades. Let the old
memories breathe and burn again.
In a few more years. you, too, VIII
have passed away, and another gen.
eration will come to place flowers
ovc your silent graves as you now
PLACE them over the graves OF your
id hrted comrades. We are part
OF that great procession sweeping
across the earth destined soon to
drop into still forgetfulness, but while
we live may the fires OF deafness
faith and passion and enthusiasm for
all that is bravest and best in life fill
and inspire u.s.
Decoration Day was perhaps more
generally, observed this year than
ever before. although it has always
been observed in Rocky Ford since
the establishment of Wadsworth
Post, No. %. G. A. r. And it is fit
ting that the day should assume
greater importance with each pass
ing year. 1t would be impossible to
do too much honor or show too much
respect for those who answered their
countrv's call to arms in OF. and il
will be but a few short years longer
that we will be able to show our 10y
atty to the heroes of that conflict
The great army is steadily diminish
ing. This year sees the thin ranks
even thinner than they were last, and
! il will be but few more years when
4 the final summons will come for those
who answered Lincoln's call Of fifty
years ago.
On Tuesday the stores and bust
] ness houses generally were closed SC
that all our people. old and young,
could follow the lead OF ''the boys in
blue" and associate orders, who as.
scmbled at their headquarters in l.
o. o. +. hall and at o:3o a. M. were
loaded into automobiles generously
contributed by our townspeoplc and
with their floral mcmentoes OF re-
spchk and loving memory were driv'