The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
GRAVES IF BOYS IN GRAY STREWN
 WITH FLOWERS Memorial Services Held Yes terday in Honor of
 Dead
DEAD BOYS IN BLUE
 WERE IGNORED, TOO
Beautiful Exercises Held in Ceme- teries-Crosses of Honor Bestowed. General Ferguson Delivers
 Eloquent Grafton

Fitting and appropriate were the me- morial services held yesterday afternoon al Oak Hill cemetery. The beautiful GUS tom of decorating the israves of the hon. ored dead was carried out and the last resting place of those who wore the Confederate gray and Federal blue alike were strewn with the lovely blossoms and flowers.
 A large crowd was present and joined in the ceremonies. Flowers were in pro- fusion. The handsome gray uniforms worn by many of the survivors of the great conflict added a touch of briliancy and color to the occasion and were h striking contrast to the brown service uniform worn by the citizen soldiers wha were present to aid in the exercises oi the day.
 General Ferguson Speaks
 Gen Fred & Ferguson was the orator of the occasion and it was the opinion of many who for years past have par. tieipated on similar occasions, that tho address of General Ferguson was one oi the finest ever delivered.
 His address was replete with many touching incidents relating to the trials sufferings and privations endured by tho gallant southern host in their brave fight for the principles in which they believed Eloquenty and impressively he spoke of the question of states rights and related a beautiful anecdote appropriate to the subject General Ferguson saic the principle of states rights will live forever.
 Tribute To Women
 He paid tender and beautiful tribute to the devotion and lf-sacrifce of the women of the south during the awful days of the war and said that a full measure of praise would be accorded then whenever the deeds of those stirring days of the great conflict were spoken of.
 He closed with an eloquent preroratior glowing with praises for the valor anc | heroism displayed by the Confederate soldier and said their deeds would endure until time should be no more. The grand old hero was warmly complimented al the conclusion of his speech by his friends and comrades.
 As on all occasions where the Confed crate soldier is involved the exercise were graced by the Daughters of th' Confederacy, who lent their ever ready aiC and assistance to the proper celebration of the day.
 One of the most beautiful and touching features was when the ladies covered with the beautiful flowers of the south land the graves of the departed heroes who had worn the Federal blue with equa profusion to the graves of those who hao worn the Confederate gray.
 Crosses Bestowed
 The bestowal of the. crosses of honor by Mrs Augustus Benners was also touching sight, and the bent and grizzly forms strengthened lip as they received from the hands of the charming young matron the bronze cross of valor which to them is a priceless heritage
 Dr. 0. T. Dozier read a beautiful poem rich in the sentiment of a cherished cause and written by himself especially for the occasion.
 Master of Ceremonies
 Gen A. C. Oxford was master of cere- monies, and gracefully introduced those participating in the programme, which was as follows:
 Invocation. by the Rev. pr. L. c. Brans- comb.
 l Music by band.
 original poem by Dr. o. T. Dozier. 1 Music by band.
 Oration, Gen Fred s. Ferguson.
 Distribution of crosses, Pelham chapter l United Daughters of the Confederacy.
 Artillery salute, Alabama Nationa l Guard.
 Reuediction, the Rev. Robert Lee Bell.
 The following veterans received tho crosses of honor. W. B. Algood, Chepul topec; c. J. Buntyn, Birmingham; W. T 1 Rouse. Birmingham w. C. Thompson Birmingham; W. L. Young, Boyles.
 Exe,cises were held also a' i,l1lwto oc L -n1aferv by the members of Canr llnr' dee and .hcr nanS friends. To; serv' i-es began a. clock in ne n n1 1T 2 an, wee T. cf aIge of Cha,ficaa :: H | II 7good Thc rt,,s,tives and Fri srgs nf ths dead veterans Taet at the Confederate monument in ttis beautiful eein,i,-Y ans then ,roceeGed to decorate tnc vas,o1i! graves.
 Memorial Day in Alabama comes or April 26, but the services are usually helC | on the nearest Sunday to that date. For tunately the weather was beautiful yes terday, and there was nothing to mar tho beauty of the ceremonies.
 More Confederate croses will be dis | trfbuted it was announced. on June and also some time in September. Th' latter distribution will be the last ont held.
 l A detachment of the Alabama Nationa l Guard fired a salute over the graves o the veterans Small Confederate flags hat been placed on each soldiers grave earlier in the day.
 The services were very impressive anf tho old soldiers stood with bowed heads during the speaking
 lGOLFERS COMING
 -o nuDnHTATNVU NE