The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-06-02
EXERCISES
UNDER BRIGHT SKIES
Local Veterans Paid Annual
Tribute to Dead.
REV, E, ], LEWIS GAVE ADDRESS
Usual Memorial Day Observance At.
tended by 45 Members OF sedgwick
Post-Fourteen of Their Number
Gone Within the Year.

tended by 40 Members OF Sedgwici
Post-Fourteen of Their Number
Gone Within the Year.
Favored by weather especially appropri
ate for the 10Th university OF the outbreal
OF the struggle in which they served 5,
CALAMITY, the surviving members of Sedg
wick post e, A. r., Tuesday paid annua
tribute TO the memory OF departed com
rades. In these memorial exercises which
every year become more solemn to thos,
who participate, the veterans were assisted
by the Woman's Relief corps, Company
l., V. \. c., ID. + Curtin camp, L. :. W
v, and Stark company Red Mems league
Garlands were strewn upon soldiers graves
in all the local cemeteries, and an eloquent
eulogy OF the Boys OF 81 was given by a
torceful speaker, The program was practi
cally the same as in former years. except
that there were more graves TO decorate
than ever before and fewer veterans left to
fulfill the solemn obligation. Forty.fye
members OF Sedgwick post participated in
Tuesdays exercises and among the graves
at which they stopped were those of II
comrades who have answered the final sum.
mons within the past wear
The formation OF the column which
marched through the streets to the com
mon and retraced its steps to the ceme-
teries was as follows:
Police Escort
Chief Marshal Luke Ferriter and Aids.
First Regiment Band,
Company |. '. y. G., Capt. W. q. Cooley.
commanding
Committee OF Arrangements.
Sedgwlck Post, G.. \. Il,
ID. +. Curtin Camp. t. ;. W. v, George
c. Cain, commanding
Stark Company. Red Mems League OF Yer
mont, Capt H +. Harris, commanding
Carriages containing disabled soldiers, in
vited guests and speakers.
The exercises in the auditorium opened
at . D. m. with a selection by the First
Regiment band. The Roll Call by Pin
suit was then sung by +. II. Miller with
L. c. Leitsinger as accompanist. Prayer
was offered by Rev John r. Cow and Mr..
Miller sang The Sleeping Hero from Men
delssohn Commander VI. l.. Bruce intro.
duced the speaker OF the day, Rev. Edwin
j. Lewis. pastor af the First Congregation
al church OF West Brattleboro. Mr.. Lewis
spoke for nearly I5 minutes. He pretaced
his address by asking his audience to go
with him in imagination back to the moth
erless because Of the conflict between the
north and the south in this country Mr..
Lewis address was finished one and he
was followed closely, being interrupted by
applause several times when he made al
lusions to the strength OF the American
nation and the patriotism OF Its people. Mr.
Lewis said in part
Nations. like trees, have their character
istics Carried over the wlnd-swept earth
the seeds find congenial soil, and the seed
ling becomes fixed in its environments. Man
goes abroad over untrodden paths and es-
tabishes dwelling place OF roof, solace
and love Men, en- masse, move out IN
search of the favorable cline and the
superlatiye condition. This i the response
of the spirit of the calls OF faith, freedom
and fraternity. Because OF the
belief that wellbeing and safety are the
sequence of faith the brave have dared to
carry out its mandate over overwhelming
areas. until becoming the primal, effective
and indistructible passion of a people. 1t
has made them superior to every adyer-
sityl How true this is of the spirit OF the
American nation-so strangely heterogen-
)us in its springs yet so marvellously nom
)genous in the expression OF It's lie.
We are not the first people to lnhahlt this
hemisphere but we may be the last II we
ire true to that divinity i'll us, which is
he life of the American nation, seen to
continually move onward into singular
eading of the nations: and for this lead
.rship we must expect to continue the pay
nent Of heavy premiums through asslmlla-
ion. absorption and adaptlon-drawlng'
Is ii by suction.
OF these epoch-making wars standing IN
ogical sequence, the one whose consumma-
ion we this day celebrate was all-moment-
,us, holding a place preemlnent az
,enter-ganglion | am speaking to the men
Who better than | know the meaning OF
hose four years (1S61 1861 years that
.dded great lustre to our countrys pres
ipe. That quarrel is only history now,
whereof we are glad-glad because Of the
living out of animosities and the vanish,
NO of those regretable differences Sun
his should not lead us to minimize that
acrifce of tears, of anguish, and blood
lor reegate to oblivion the memory OF
hose around whose graves we this day
.ather. For no achievement or enterprise
celebrated by any people; no even re-
by any nation; no movement OF
liberty to higher ground SURPRISES iIie
,randeur of this one. Marathon, AraDeiia,
Saratoga, Gettysburg ana MANIA
re only miestones along the highway py
which posterity moves on TO ehJos az
blessings of higher destiny. All
,onor 70 the remnant of this rapidly NOV
no pageant-the Grand Army OF the Re-
,nblic Sons of sires who were the con-
of Lincoln; our point OF con
act with slavery times; Honor them Tor
he morrow of their vanishing Is upon us. I
,oon. for us. the educational value OF CON |
act will have gone forever. What II be- |
lines their manner be abrupt-the habit |
f nrompt obedience is theirs. What II |
,etimes they tarry in their coming grow
ot ;mnatient. y Let not arrog |
nee and ingratitude strange our sympac.
HES for the old soldier. Soon the last OF |
hem will have passed down into the val
,y-going down soldier-like, keeping step
nth the drum beat of time, moving with
olors erect as they enter the gloom
At the close of Mr.. Lewis address Com.
,ander Rruce asked for rising vote of |
hanks which was accorded the. speaker;
Ar Miller sang Tenting Tonight and |
he exercises closed with the national an
hem sung by the audience. The line OF
1arcb was reformed and the procession |
assed through Main and North streets to
he common where the usual exercises at |
he soldiers monument were conducted by
lev. E. S. Harrison of West BrattleooTo.
IN its return the line was halted at the
own hall where white-g CARRIED children pre-
ented the veterans laurel wreathes which
ere carried to the cemeteries and placed
Don the graves of soldiers. MIR. Harrl-
on also participated in the exercises at tne
overnment burial plot in Prospect mn
cemetery. The column broke ranks upon
eacbing G. A. r. hall upon its return.
hiring the morning the post and woman's
,lef corns went to West Brattleboro
here the graves of soldiers in the West
rattleboro and Meeting House Hill ceme-
voave If Suffering