Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-31

A dirge was played at the cemetery
by the Waterville Military Band, pray
er by Rev. Isaac LaE'leur, decoration
of graves at the sound of the bugle,
and salute for the dead benediction.
The parade then marched 10 the Sol
diers Monument near Coburn Classical
Institute, where the band played a
selection, onward Christian Soldiers.
followed by prayer. by Rev. Henry
Clay Turner, salute for the dead three
.volleys by Go. II, and reading the roll
of the honored dead. The procession
then marched down Elm to Main
street to G. A, r. hall and the Armory.
The evening exercises held in City
han, were the most ambitious ever
attempted in this line on Memorial
day. and were enjoyed very much by
an audience which occupied practical
~ every seat in the auditorium The
members of w. S. Heath Post were
escorted to the hall by the band and
Co. II, and the Spanish War voter
ans. ana the following program was
carried out: The Waterville Military
Band rendered an excellent selection,
followed by PRAYER by Rev. cyrus f.
Stimson. 4 chorus of school children
gave a charming flag drill which
evoked frequent applause from the
audience; II was truly a beautiful
sight. They left the stage singing
the Star Spangled Banner. Lawrence
Jones of Watervilie High school rem
dered Lincohs address at Gettysburg.
followed by a poem. The Blue and the
Groy, by little Mary Kenniston. A
Raymond Rogers read Logan,s adj
dress
The address by Mayor Pattangall
was short and to the point He re-
minded the audience of the objects
of the Civil War. which achieved per-
manent results. His father. a cap
tain in the First Maine heavy Artil-
lery. died at the Battle of Spottsyl-
vania and few families are there in
Maine who cannot count a relative
who fought for the union in that war.
Rev David N Beach, d. d. presi-
dent of the Bangor Theological Semi
nary. gave the Memorial day address.
Mr. Beach, who created a fine impress
sion, as he does upon every assembly
that he addresses first told of trip
that his son recently took through
the battlefields of the South. especially
those in which the Maine soldiers
story about each. and the recital was
vivid Mr.. Beach then went on to tell
of the Civil War as seen through a.
boys eyes, boy who was about IL
years old when the war began.
A hoy at that age. be remembered
young fellows hut little older than
he some of them who would be afraid
to go out after dark. and yet when
the nation was in peril. they gladly
came to the rescue; they shouldered
a rifle. and paced the sentry watches
on the coolest and darkest nights of
the four long, weary years. between
hostile armies. and as gladly laid down
their lives when it was necessary.
Sitting beside me, tonight, as ] was
watching that children's flag drill"
said the speaker, "one of the veterans
remarked to me that he had seen men
who were mere skeletons go into rap
lures at the sight of the flag and al
though near to death. be eager to kiss
its precious folds That was the spir-
IL that animated those times.
So on through the war. telling of
the brave and patient Lincoln, this
eloquent, mastery orator kept the
hearers at attention constantly. re-
lating simply. yet strongly his boy
hood impressions of the giant struggle
for the union. which, boyish as they
were. vet were mature in that they
grasped the purpose of the combat,
and were as much interested In the
right outcome as the men of the
period.