Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-06-05
HONORED THE MEMORY
OF OUR SOLDIER DEAD
Memorial Day Fittingly Observ-
ed In Lancaster.
Large Assemblage Addressed by Hon
H. E. Sprague, of Elkhorn, Wis,
a Former Citizen.

While the number Of people who
attended the exercises on Memorial
Day in Lancaster was larger than
usual, due in part, no doubt to the
exceptionally perfect weather. the
fact was plainly emphasized that the
veterans Of the Civil War are becom-
ing fewer year by year-their ranks
are becoming thinner with each an
niversary.
Wisconsin contributed 81, 900 men
to the army and navy and no state OF
its size in the Union sent more or
better soldiers nor those who had a
part in a greater number of important
battles than those of this state. And
in all the state no section showed
greater patriotism or responded more
promptly with it's brave hearted men
and boys to the countrys need of de-
tenders than Grant county, which con-
tributed away beyond its required
quota.
Grant county's soldiers deeds are
commemorated by the monument
with its surrounding cenotaphs that
stands in the northeast corner of the
court house square-the first o. its
kind that was erected in the
United States = and around this
marie shaft center the public cere-
monies in Lancaster that are conducted
upon each recurring Memorial Day.
Aside from the commemorative char
acter of such exercises is the inculca
tion of the great lesson of heroic self
sacrifice by those who gave up their
lives and contributed Of their services
in the best years of their lives, for
their country in its hour of peril.
The lessons we're splendidly ex-
emplI6ed by the veteran participants
in Thursdays parade, and the martial
spirit again entered their brave old
hearts when they recalled the daring
deeds of old war days as they moved
in procession in the sorrowing but
loving task of paying tribute to the
memories of their former comrades
in arms who silently sleep
ION Fame's eternal camping ground
Their Silent Tents are Spread"
In the morning the program at the
cemetery was carried out as out
lined in last week 8 Herald. Lincoln
Gettysburg address was read by
Maurice Ziegler, the memorial
ritualistic services of the G. A. K.
post given and the decoration of
graves performed by large number
of boys and girls.
In the afternoon the procession
formed at the Post hall, and headed
by the band, marched around the
square to the monument. Next fol-
lowing the band were about two
hundred boys and girls bearing
flowers They marched down the
center of the open space to the monu
ment, where they separated, passing
around either side of it in opposite
directions and forming a double circle
about it. Next came the older boys
and girls and following them the
soldiers, the ladies of the q. A. r.
and w r c.. The decoration of the
monument was made by twelve young
ladies; there was a song by 300 or
more school children and prayer by
Rev. j. I. Morgans, after which the
crowd repaired to the southwest corner
of the square, where a speakers plat
form had been erected and seats
placed underneath the large elm trees
for the comfort of all.
Here there was music by the band.
a song by the L. Fl. S. Girls Chorus
prayer by Rev. G. A. Eastman; song,
occasional, by 80 voices, fine recita-
tion by Donald Dyer, an address by
Hon. E. H. Sprague, of Elkhorn,
Wis. song, America and benedict1on
by Rev. Louis Schmidt
Mr.. Sprague was long ago a resi-
dent of this county, having been born
in the town of Waterloo. In boy
hood he was connected for a time
with The Herald office, back in war
days and also followed teaching. He
left here in 1869 and has lived in
Elkhorn, Walworth county since
1878, where he has been a successful
lawyer and prosperous business man.
This was one of the few visits he has
made to Lancaster since leaving here
forty years ago. His address was
eloquent and impressive and was at
tentirely listened to by large as
semblage.