Henderson gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1911-19??, 1911-05-11
Memorial Day Exercises.

Memorial Day was great day for
Henderson,. The whole town kept
it, the store windows bespoke the
occasion as did also the flags and
colors to be seen dotted about over
the city. And to make it all the
more complete, delayed summer
made its triumphal entrance and the
bright sun and dust-laid roads, lent
their Inducements to the many who
came to participate in this memo
rial service to the patriotism and
courage of Confederate soldiers, liy-
ing and dead.
The parade formed at Mrs.-S. z.
COoper's corner, aud crossing in front
OF the graded school marched down
Garnett street to the courthouse
The Vance Guards, the young de-
tenders, led the way for the old, some
too feeble to walk, and who made
thrilling picture in their uniforms OF
gray, the Harriet Band discoursing
Mohawk Tribe of Red Men in cos
tunes, the mounted marshals, the
Daughters of the Confederacy, and
those who were to be the entertain
ers of the day came next.
The court room was never more
attracti"ely, appropriately and care
fully decorated than on this Occa
sion. The red and white was used
with evergreens in the adornment.
Judge Powell was master of ceremo
MES, and first asked the audience, a
packed room, many standing out
side, to sing Carolina. Rev. j. A.
Mcclure then opened the exercises
with prayer, and the Harriet Band
delighted those present with Dixie"
which was applauded as only a
Southern crowd can applaud Dixie"
Commander j. t. B. Hoover then
made the best speech he ever made,
thanking for the help in securing the
uniforms, which credit is mostly due
to Miss Jessica Randolph Smith,
who represented her father, Major
o. r. Smith, the oldest member of
the camp, on this occasion. The
commander called on all who had
served the Confederacy to arise and
when the Confederate soldiers stood
in body in heir uniforms of gray,
great was the ovation given them.
Mr4. j. A. Mcclure sang "Our
Dead" which was written by Rev. r.
NJ. Andrews for the tenth of May,
and rendered it beautifully. Mrs. J.
w. Mnrgan's recitation, ''The Old
Confed," brought forth more ap-
plause than anything on the pro-
gram. Mr.. Saunders OF the Harriet
Band, next delighted the crowd with
a lovely cornet solo. Hewas accom-
panied by Mrs. c. A. Lewis on the
organ.
Judge Powell read the rules for
the Crosses of Honor, that the oldest
lineal defendant of u veteran who
| has never received one can get it by
making application, and then read
| the list of those who were to receive
| Crosses on this occasion. Mrs. S. Z.
Cooper, in the insignia of her office
as Sponsor for North Carolina at the
General Convention, then gracefully
presented them to Messrs. R. A. Bull
lock, ". J. Hoyle, c. D. LangstOn,
Collin McNair, S. p. Phipps, S. ".
Satterwhte, William Pendergrass,
and Mrs. W. A. Phelps and Mrs.
James Newsome.
Mr.. j. C.. kittrell, orator of the
day, was introduced by Judge Pow
ell as Vance county's most gifted
"word-pitcher" Mr.. Kittrell did
not disappoint his audience in spite
of an over-poweringly compliment
tary introduction. 1t was pane,
gyric on the Daughters of the Con.
(ederacy rather than Confederate
speech in their usual form. 1t was a
fine speech and brought much ap.
plause.
Dinner was later served to the Vet.
Grams, and all those who had so lib
orally lent aid in making this one Of
the biggest and best Memorial Days
that this great old county has yet
seen.