Connecticut western news., 1913-06-05
MEMORIAL DAY
Fitting Observance, and Fine Oratios
 by Fred. w. Orr.

Memorial Day was observed in Ca- naan according Co the program laid out by the committees and printed in The News. The day was perfect, as regards weather, and the arrangements were carried out without hitch at any point. The veterans, with their wives, daugh- ters and sons, made the round of the cemeteries in automobiles furnished by Allyn Fuller, J. O. Rorabaclk, Dr. H. l.. Ross, Fl. E. Lyles and J. II. Roraback. This was the first time the tour had been made in autos, and the result was in every way more satisfactory, enabling the veterans to get around sooner and with a greater degree of comfort. The Lower Cemetery was reached fully an hour earlier than formerly and the sol- diers and guests had ample leisure to await the dinner which was served by the ladies in the social rooms of Pilgrim Church.
 Flowers, which had been left at Par sons store, were taken to the cemetery by Joseph l.. Parsons. in his auto, and there was an abundance for the purpose of decorating the soldiers graves- A committee of local members of Hiram Eddy Damp, Sons of Veterans, placed a bouquet of wild.fowers on Dr. Eddy'a grave, the firing of volley over the grave being omitted this year, the firing squad being retained In Lakeyille In view of an unusually elaborate observ- ance of the day.
 The dinner, arrangements for which were under the direction of Mrs. K. T. Rowe as chairman of the oommittee. was a satisfying feast, as usual, of fine variety and most efficiently served There was an abundance and to spare as usual
 At 2 o'clock the memorial exercises in Town Hall took place and were witnessed by large audience. Mir. George ]. Vogel presided, in his usual efficient manner,
 The invocation was offered by Rev. O. W. Hanna. of East Canaan, after which the pupils of the seventh and eighth grades, who were marshaled on the stage. sang most acceptably number of patriotic airs.
 Commander, W. R. Weddle, Of David s. Oowles Post. q. A. R., read the Orders of the Day and the comrades rose.and gave their impressive salute to the dead !" Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was read. and the pupils sang -'t Maroh- ing Through Georgia.
 The salute to the fag" was then given, Mir. vogel making 1t unusually significant by causing the audience to rise and repeat the salute in unison, with the action that accompanies it. The ef- feet was impressive. The salute is as follows:
 "I pledge allegianceito my flag and to the republic for which it stands one na- tion indivisible, with liberty and, justice for all. !"
 A piano and violin duet by Miss May Kegler and Mr. E. R. Webster, grandson of Comrade k. s. Roberts, at this pstIIt was given and enthusiastically applaud ed, after which Chairman Yogel intro duced the orator of the day, Mr. Fred W. Orr. of New Haven, who gave a splendid address appropriate to the day and the occasion, and which many of the hearers-veterans and others-pro. nounced one of the best Memorial Day orations ever given in Canaan. In part Mir. Orr. said
 "Of all the histories that ever have been written upon whose pages are re- corded the deeds of valor performed and sacrifices endured, the story of none will SO quicken the impulse of the human heart as those referring to the gallant men whose life blood has enriched the soil of those battle-fields, now standing as the glorious landmarks that in their silence explain more eloquently thmn tongues can tell of the conflicts that meant the preservation of the UMion with Old Glory still waving, with every star and every stripe, over the gravvssof those who fought in defense of it's honor.
 "Those of you who are to. day enjoy | ing the peace and partaling of the pros perity of the worlds greatest nation; those of you who rejoice in seeing the little children growing up to American manhood and womanhood with a spirit of love for their country instilled into their hearts and minds; those of you who rejoice for the realization of a re- united country whose flag of freedom beautifies the breezes of every cline, acting as messenger of cheer for all civilization, and these of you who desire to give thanks to whom and where it is due, give it to the silent forms beneath the white marble where the Red, White and Blue is waving. and to their living comrades who today are paying their loving tributes to the memory of their camp-m mates who lived, fought and dlea as brave American soldiers.
 "To you men was left the sad and dir. ficult task of rIghting the wrongs of other days. The lust of power com bined with an indolent desire for riches caused men to enslave their fellowman For centuries the practice continued, uR. til it reached the shores and mockcd ct the institutions of our boasted free America. But when the fullness o6f time had come, the great emancipatur