The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-30
Memorial Day Observed by
Veterans and Others.
People Crowd Cemeteries to
Pay Tribute of Flowers.
LONG LINE is DNINDLING
Each Year 1t Is Shorter Than
Before.
Parade on Kansas Avenue This
Afternoon.

Ali morning, scores of automobiles
were busy hauling the hundreds OF
war veterans and their wives to the
! Ii cal cemeteries that the annual memo
rial ceremonies might again be proper
| ly observed. With the hundreds of
gray-haired comrades, went hundreds
| of baskets of flowers from every sec
tion of the town.
| With a bright, warm sunshine, the
preliminary observance of Decoration
Day began early. At Lincoln Post hall,
the activities of the day We're in evi-
dence at o'clock. An hour later,
line of motor cars were waiting for the
veterans at the curbing below and the
annual trip to the final resting places
of the wearers of the blue and the
gray had begun.
At O'Clock, hundreds of school chill
dren walked to their respective schools.
Each child carried a basket or wreath.
The floral collection was taken in wag-
ems and automobiles to post headquar-
ters and from here the distributions
were made.
An effort is being made today to
eclipse the celebrations of former
years. Each year the lineup of
marching comrades dwindles and each
year the little green mounds in the
cemetries increase. Some of the men
and women who carried flowers to-
day will be remembered with a tear
and a wreath next year-and none
know the truth so well as the boys
who Joined the ranks in 81.
Seventy-five men from Lincoln post
and the several local camps represent
ed their various bodies in ceremonies
at the cemeteries. 1t was these men
who attended to the floral decorations
at the graves of the unknown dead
the men who gave their lives that
unmarked graves. Over these graves
were fired the same saluteS that hon
ored the resting places of the men
whose name and fame is history. With
the same tender care and affection
that was shown the departed Topeka
comrades, the committee visited the
little green mounds of men who laid
down the fight among strangers.
Out at the cemeteries this morning
were decrepit old men-some with all
empty sleeve-some with missing leg
or carrying life wound to show for
their love Of country-and it was this
stra ggling line of grey haired men who
dropped tear and made green again
the lonely mounds. Behind these men
walked the aged, but strong hearted
fought the battle in a lonely home and
waited for loved ones who never cam
back. It was these mothers, wives
and sweethearts who today stopped at
black days when a loved one marched
away to answer the call of nation.
Tearfully and with a silent prayer,
each mound received it's foral greeting
of loving remembrance and at noon
not one among the long rows of graves
had been forgotten.
With the old boys of 81, walked the
veterans of the Spanish war. And wit!
them were hundreds of citizens-men.
women and children-who sought the
grave of some dear one that they might
leave an Offering of flowers.
Veterans in Parade.
Headed by pIatoons of police, noisy
800 veterans of the Civil war this af
ternoon participated in the annual
Decoration day parade. Many of the
old soldiers rode in motor cars, but
others scoffed at invitations to ride
and marched up Kansas avenue un-
der a blistering sun.
The parade today was one of the
most impressive of the kind Witness
ed in Topeka in several years. AT
o'clock the booming of cannon an
nounced the formation of the par
tcipantS in the march. Three sec
tionS of the parade formed on lower |
Quincy street between Fifth and Sew |
enth- The line of march was from |
Fifth and Quincy, west to Kansas ave-
nue., south to Ninth street, east to /
Quincy and north to the auditorium. |
At the head of the first division was
a platoon of police, followed by Chief |
J. NJ. Miller and staff. Then |
came the Second Regiment band of the /
Kansas National guards, Mayor ].
members of the city commits
sion, other public officials andd rep
resentation from the fire department.
Modern Woodmen Sunflower camp
No. 563 led the second division follow
ed by Modern Woodmen Shawnee camp
No. 2S0O, Canton n o. 1. o. o. F.
Gala division No. s, knights of Py-
thias, subordinate lodges, Knights &
Ladies of Security and delegations from
other civic organizations.
1t was in the third division that the old
soldiers and veterans of the two wars
rode or marched as they might choose.
Headed by Jackson's Military band,
speakers escort and battery A, came
members of the Topeka, BLUE, Fort Billow,
Lincoln and visiting posts; together with
veterans of the Spanish-American war, |
drum corps, Sons of Veterans and mem
bers of Old Abe camp No. 16. 1t was an
Impressive procession, although the crowd
on Kansas avenue was not large as
the one along the line of march a year
ago
Following the parade, public meeting
was held in the auditorium. Here Colonel |
L C. True, of Kansas City, was the
principal speaker. True introduced
by F. D. Coburn, secretary of agriculture
who was sergeant major of Colonel True's