Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-06-01
HONOR DAY FOR THE DEAD.

HONOR DAY FOR THE DEAD.
Memorial Day comes again with
its renewed tribute Of patriotic de-
yotion.
II needs no Presidents Droclama-
ton, no legislative action to make
the United States observe Memorial
day. The descendants Of more tha7
two million soldiers who constituted
the Federal armies which fought
from 81 to '65, need no reminder
to perform what they consider q
sacred duty. The members o. the
Grand Army Of the Requisite. who
followed the fate Of the 5tars and
Etripes-some Of them from FUN
ter to Appomattox--do not require
admonition TO honor tho comrades
whom wound or disease has taken
from them Thus It 10 that at least
from Mason ami Dixon's line tc the
boundaries CT the Queens domlrion,
every cemetery where soldier lies
will witness the advent Of II Jwers.
The origin Of Decoration day lies
with the origin Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic, in 1855, the year
following the close of the war, The
first post thereof was organized at
Decatur, ILL.,, April 8, 1855. In May
of that year the ceremony Of dec
Grating the graves of the soldier
dead was carried out to ltinited
extent, but the movement was not
given full force until the meeting
OF the first national encampment at
indianapolis, November 20, 1866.
Here Decoration day now more gem
orally called Memorial day, may be
said to have been really given birth.
Observed in a small way at first,
1t has gradually grown in extent and
honor until now there Is but one day
in the calendar which 1t ranks equal
ly with in patriotic minds-July 4.
The ceremony of decorating the
graves consists of the placing Of
flowers thereon, together with tiny
flags, miniature of those which the
dead ones followed. The graves of
the sleeping Confederates are decor
ated as are those Of the men who
fought for the Union. The same flag
Is above both. The flowers know
no difference. In many of the
Southern cemeteries where Is no
Grand Army the Confederates emu
lating the courtesy shown by their
fellows Of the North, place on the
graves Of the sleeping Union sold
iers the same memorials with which
they grace the resting places OF
their own dead. 1t is the time when
those who loved the men who wore
the gray remember their own dead,
the men who fought bravely for the
cause they believed to be right. The
grave knows neither friend nor foe
Both rest
under the sod and the dew,
Waiting the judgment day,
Under the roses the Blue,
Under the lilies the Gray"
There are far fewer Of the gray
TO remember than Of the blue. for
the total Of those who fought for
the Southern Confederacy is placed
ct 100000,
The graves which are decorated
not only contain all that is mortal
Of men who persisted on the battle
field, but Of thousands OF those who
we're taken from the cares Of this
world years after the sounds Of
strife had ceased. 1t is the principle
Of the Grand Army OF the Republic
ab well as Of the Confederate asso-
Citations, that any member thereof
shall sbe honored in death with the
same tribute that is paid to the COM
rades whom death claimed during the
war.
II is honor day for the dead
the noble dead to whom the nation
owes It's existence.