The Republican journal., 1912-06-06
Memorial Day.
Its Observance by Thomas H. Marshal,
Post, G, A. r. and Kindred So.;o.:..

81.
Post, G, A. R. and Kindred Societies
The skies wept on Memorial Dav. A. +;ma,
the rain came down in heavy showers and .+ 81,
otner times drizzle and mist prevailed and III.
sun renamed hidden behind heavy cIopd.
But despite the weather detail of ,.d;.s g.,
the Circle went to Grove cemeterv :, ~
ing ana decorated the graves of the dead
mere were flowers in profusion. both cnlt;.
vateo and Wild, and on each grave were tho
stars and Stripes and the special markors ,,,;th
red, white and blue ribbons. Later . nrn,ho-
OF school girls, with the chaplain of the circ,o
Mrs w. A. Nichols, went to the lowe. bride
and scattered flowers on the water. in honor of
the sailors in the late war.
Inc march to the cemetery and the exer-
clses to have been held there were o;yer -, -.
account of the rain and the program for +ba
exercises in Memorial hail. as announced last
week, was materially changed At3p m tbs
members of Thomas Fl. Marshall post tool,
seats in the front of the stage which ,,.s
oecorateo with nags of all sizes, and in the
center was mound draped with flags and bear
ing large bouquet under which we,e +be
words "Our Unknown Dead" After tbe Post
was seated the ladies of the Circle, the Sons of
Veterans and the Ladies' Auxiliary marched in
and took seats directly back of them Thor.
were comparatively few spectators. The ex-
ercises opened with singing Nearer NV God
to Thee, with Miss Amy f. Stoddard at the
piano. Prayer was then offered by Chaplan
A. w. Hasson, and Adjutant Thomas Cannon
read the general orders and also the names of
members who had died the past year. These
were George B. Blake, John Thompson. A. w.
Staples, DR.. Isaac Hills, all of Ielfast, ]. H.
Lenfest of Swanvile, W. B. Cammett and Hol
lis Wentworth of Waldo. Then came the cere-
mony of decorating the mound to "Our I'm
known Dead,' conducted by Commander L. c.
Putnam. 1t differed materially from the reg
uiar exercise but was very impressive and in
terestlng. Previous to the address of well
come by Commander Putnam, the officers were
requested to take seats on the platform. The
memorial address was by Past Commander Il,
w. Burrill of Robert o. Tyler Post, No. so of
Hartford, Conn.,, formerly of Searsport. Com
rade Burrill spoke from actual experience of a
soldiers life, which began when he was
mere boy. He enlisted in the 18th Maine, but
was rejected on account of height, later enlist
ing in the 26th Maine, and after four months
service was detailed as Col. Hubbard's order
ly. His address most interesting one
He paid m erited tributes to the heroes of the
past and present, to the members of the G. A.
Rand spoke feelingly of the day they were OBJ
serving and its significance. He was frequent
ly interrupted by applause and often the fall
ing tears testified that he had touched respon-
sive chords in the hearts of his hearers At
the close of the addressMiss Edna Hopkins sang
very sweetly two patriotic songs, "The Sword
of Bunker Hill and "The Star Spanged Ban
ner." While the latter was sung the audience
stood ard Commander Putnam waved the Post
banner. Mrs. Eta Piper Savery then read
"The Veterans" Messrs. A. T. Gay, A. p.
Goodhue, Earl Talbot and Frank R. Keene
sang "Tenting the Old Campground." and
Mrs. Dora Bridges read impressively Moses
Owens famous poem"The Returned Maine Bat
tie Flags" The exercises closed with Taps by
Roy Coombs. Despite the unfavorable wealth
er the day set apart in memory of the patriot
dead had been fittingly observed