The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1913-06-03
Memorial Day
Properly Observed
PATRIOTIC ADDRESS BY W. D. KEETON
Large Crowd Of Citizens Attend the Exercises al
City Cemetery

memorial LAY phse6l Ofti Win q
more proper observance of the day
last Friday than has ever been the
custom in this city. Almost every
store was closed during the afternoon
aud the entire city was decorated
with fiags and bunting in honor of the
OCCASION. In the afternoon a splen
did Memorial program WAS rendered
at the cemetery, preceded by parade
of school children, the city band, and
many of the citizens.
The people gathered at the high
school building at 1880 O'Clock and
after listening to a number of seleo
tlous by the city band, a parade was
formed, the line of march being to
the cemetery, where ali the exercises
we're held. j f. Keston. the only
Grand Army veteran of the city, to
gether with his wife, we're given the
honored place in the ceremonies.
The Memorial Day program CON
sisted of first a patriotic medley by
the band. followed by a very pretti
ly executed drill by % pupils of the
second grade of the public school,
under the direction of their teacher.
Miss Gertrude Meehan. b. Ii. Buck
read the famous Lincoln Gettysburg
address. after the opening prayer by
Rev. Harvey, of the Methodist church,
aud then the chorus 4 eight high
school girls rendered a selection:
"Oh Take him Back. 1"
The main address of the day was
delivered by William d. Keeton, of
this city, and was one of the best of
its kind heard Ia the city for some
time The orator has a pleasing voice
and manner, and his words seemed to
bit the right spot in stirring up the
patriotism of his listeners and Ia ere
ating a truer and higher regard for
what the Grand Army men have done
for this country, and a clearer reaii'
zation OF the respect that is due to
them.
The following is the address as de-
livered by Mr.. Keeton:
MIR. Chairman. Friends, and Citi-
zens:
The present week has been largely
occupied with events of significance.
And these festivities have been preg-
nart with much oratory and many
fine sentiments aud thoughts We
have listended to the talent of st
MaIies. prepared aud qualified, and
have been entertained by the eloquent
words of imported speakers. And at
the close of such a week as this, It
may seem to you as It does TO me,
that for me to attempt to add to this
none of learning, is presumptious
and illtimed on my part
Indeed l would gladly have daclin-
ed an hlRor and a privilege to which
feel Ps6ual, to give place to some
man mFre fitted aud qualified for the
duties which the occasion requires,
aud II would have been an easy mat
ter for your committee to have OBJ
tanned man mose able to do justice
to the day. But for you to have oh
tRlned a man more pleased, or ont
who has the occasion more at heart
or one whu more deeply feels th'
honor thus con cred, would have re
quired an infinite and uniimite,
amount Of search.
This assembly OF people, glowinl
with sympathy, anticipation anC
seriousness, must impress on the rin'
Of the most casual observer, that th'
time aud place and purpose Of ou
gathering Is not one of ordinary sig
nificauoe and that the purposes o
the day has made a deep impression
on our hearts. Indeed the day is on
that Is sacred to heroes dead-a da
set aside as an expression of appTecia
tion to heroes living
No pages OF history are more inter
esting to its people than those who
record the brave deeds Of its heroi
men, and the deeds of brave an
noble lives molly lived; aud no na
tion, Ia oommemoration Of it's va
liant, illustrious men has establishe
more beautiful custom than tbs
contemplated by Decoration Day til
strewing Of flowers on the graves {
her departed heroes as a tribute
their memory, aud the maulfeseng {
appreciation to those who yet survive
and who are today but the remnant
OF many a we'll fought field.
Today we recount the deeds Of loi
ty victories; today we live again wit
the fathers Of our nation; today v
retell the history Of our country
llte-let Us then look on the horIzo
of the past aud read to see how we
our fathers huilded.
One hundrad thirty seven years az
the fourth of next July, our fathe
dug to the bed rock Of human right
and planted their standard ther
Pro6ting by the experiences Of fall
emplres-by countless lives nee