The Republican journal., 1911-06-01
Memorial Day

Fittingly Observed by the Grand Army and
Allied Organizations. The Boy Scouts
Act as Escort.
The weather was ideal on Memorial Dav.
The sky was overcast at times a comfortable
temperature prevailed, there was no dust. no
wind, and only gentle breeze to stir the flags.
There was an abundance of flowers, and the
floral decorations at Grove cemetery were more
profuse and beautiful than ever before. The
cemetery, with its neatly kept avenues and
walks and closely clipped mounds was never
in better condition and was credit to the
superintendent, Mr.. James F. Fernald The
graves of the veterans had been marked with
small flags and received their floral decorations
Tuesday morning, and the Grand Army lot with
its mound to the unknown dead was well deco
rated
The procession was formed on Church
street in front of Memorial hall at D. M.
with J. Harvey Stinson as marshal of the day.
He was mounted and carried in front of him
his little daughter, Maud H, who was dressed
in white and waved the Stars and Stripes. The
Sons of Veterans, under command of Capt
Charles E. Merriam, with William A. johnson
as color bearer and John Parker drummer
headed the procession and presented a fine
appearance in their uniforms. Then came the
members of Thomas H. Marshall Post Thomas
H. Marshall Circle, Ladies of the G. A. R., and
the Ladies Auxiliary in buckboards There
was only handful Of veterans in comparison
with the number who made long march to
the cemetery but few years ago. The Bow
Scouts under command of Walter ]. Clifford
had formed in line in front of the Opera House,
and on arriving there the procession halted
while the Scouts marched around it and took
their place at the head, moving to the sound of
the drum beaten by Master Bennie Parker,
son of Mr.. John Parker, and who handled the
drumsticks like veteran. The Boy Scouts in
their neat kahki uniforms were great addi-
tion to the parade and there were many COM
pliments on their appearance and department
The line of march over Church street to
Miller, up Miller to Congress, over Congress
to Main and thence to the cemetery, where the
exercises were conducted by Commander A D.
Smalley of Thomas H. Marshall Post, assisted
by Chaplain Putnam and Adjutant Guptill.
The Grand Army and allied organizations
formed hollow square around the G. A. r.
lot. and Nearer My God to Thee" and "Ameri-
ca" were sung most impressively. A salute to
the dead and the bugle call closed the exer-
cises and the procession was then formed for
the march to Memorial hall, where it disband-
ed. On arriving in front of The Journal office
the Boy Scouts were drawn up in line on the
side of the street and saluted the veterans as
they passed, the latter returning the salute by
lifting their hats When the procession had
passed the Scouts marched to the Opera House
and there disbanded, having done we'll their
part in the exercises of the day.
The exercises at the Memorial hall were not
open to the public owing to the limited accom-
modatons and were confined to the G. A R.
and invited guests, and the presence of only
those who felt the full significance of the oc-
casion made them the most impressive for
years. Following is the order of exercises:
The assembly call by bugler Roy Coombs; read
ing of orders and roll of honor by Adjutant D.
T. Guptill; address of welcome by Commander
A. D. Smalley; prayer by Chaplain L. c. Put
nam; violin solo, Miss Hazel Doak, accompanied
by her father on guitar, G.,R Doak; song, "The
Deathless Army" John Parker; reading Lin
coins Gettysburg Address, Mrs Thomas Gan
non; address, Rev. William Vaughan; soprano
solo, The Faded Coat of Blue" Miss Edna
Hopkins; reading ga Memorial Day Vision,"
Mrs Sumner Bridges; song, "Tenting on the
Old Camp Ground" Messrs. A. 7. Gay, c. E.
Merriam, John Parker and Earl Talbot; reci-
tation, "The Grand Army Button" Master
Frank Downes; America" by the audience;
taps, Roy Coombs.
Miss Doak responded to an encore with
"Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Marching" and
Miss Hopkins with Columbia the Gem of the
Ocean," Miss Amy E. Stoddard was the ac-
companist. The address by Rev. VIM. Vaughan,
patriotic and timely He said that few real
lied the sacrifices of the soldiers to whom is
due the prosperity of the country today. He
told of the causes of the war and of the hard
ships endured by the men at the front and by
those at home, and brought tears to the eyes
of many of the veterans. The appreciation of
the audience of this eloquent address was
ndulleSleu tHe 1IeHueUt anu hearty dp-
plause.
The hall was decorated with flags and red,
white and blue streamers. The Posts banners,
"Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty" were suspend
ed over the altar, which was draped with a
flag. Two large flags. caught up with red,
white and blue ribbon, We're on either side of
the platform, on which were the flags of the
allied organization, and crossed flags were
placed over the pictures on the walls. The
chandelier was draped with red, and red, white
and blue streamers depended from it to diff
ferent points OF the ceiling.
In the evening the Sons of Veterans had an
open meeting at Memorial Hail, to which the
other G. A. H. societies were invited. Re-
freshments were served.
Capt Norton Recalls Pleasant Memories.
A notice Of the celebration of the eighty
fifth birthday of ex-chief engineer Robert
/ Shoe uh oh appaared in tho Rath Tirnac of