Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-06-03
MEMORIAL DAY ObSERV-
ANCE IN WEBSTER CITY

( y e \ !
Piles of all time being exemplified II
! the campaigns of the Civil War. In
literature it's influence is wide
{ spread, giving to us some of the best
known songs, poems, etc. But the
greatest of all its influences was its
harvest of character, the great men
. whom it gave to the history of this
nation, for the courage. endurance
and patriotism which it inspired in
the breasts of the multitudes who
swear allegiance to the stars and
stripes.
| In passing, Rev. Metcalf could
scarcely forbear comparison of the
soldiery of the United States with
that of the flag under which he was
born and laid the superiority of the
American soldier to the fact that it
was recruited from all classes of the
nation and not from the lower
classes only.
But great as were the victories OF
this and other wars, there is no
story in history comp arabic with the
triumph of peace which was achiev-
ed at Appomattox, when the COM
manders of the armies said to the
soldiers, take with you your horses
for you will need them at the plow.
And SO ever since, as each spring
the burrows have been turned and
the busy days of spring and summer
and fall and winter have been pass
ing, the work of peace has been go
ing on and slowly but surely the Bit
ter passions Of the strife which for
four years cut the nation in twain
are dying out, until today the traces
of that bitterness and antagonism
have almost disappeared and the ma
tional republic of the United States
stands firm upon that solid union
foundation laid by the Civil War;
and the success of the reign Of the
common people is assured, not only
in this country, but to the ends of
the earth.
BY the special request of Rev.
Metcalf the closing number of the
afternoon was the old familiar song
"Tenting Tonight" the verses being
sung by Mrs. G.. T. McCauliff, the
other members of the choir and au-
dience joining in the chorus.
Several little incidents of yester-
days exercises are of special inter-
est. Many remarked upon the loyai-|
ty and patriotism Of the Boy Scouts
and their leader, Murray McMurray,
who SO willingly came in from their
camp in the country to do honor to
the memory of the brave men who
fought and died for the flag they as
an organization are sworn to defend.
AS the procession moved passed
the F. d. Young residence on it's
way to the cemetery the Grand Army
boys uncovered to their comrade, F.
D. Young, who was unable this year,
because OF recent illness, to march
with them. Also at the George S.
Neel residence on the corner of Wall
nut and Prospect streets the same
courtesy was observed in honor of
the beautiful decorations of flags up-t
on the lawn and house.
One change in the order of the
procession was greatly regretted by
the old soldiers and many others |
and that was the absence of the pub
lie school children from the parade
which we understand was occasioned
by the heat of the day. Hundreds of
school children were completely |
Frustrated with heat in a public
parade in Des Moines Thursday and
this may have had much to do with
the decision of those here in charge
OI lUiS HdlteT. f1efetoIUiS tAcEc HAS /
been some complaint of the children
having not only marched to the GEM
etery in the sun but also the long
wait about the soldiers monument in
the cemetery where there is no
shade. This has proven too much
for some OF the smaller children. 1t
does seem too bad that the children,
to whom the future observance of
this memorial is intrusted, should
not have some active part in it and
1t is hoped that some satisfactory ar
rangement can be made another year
so that they, too, may march in the
parade and be provided shady
place to rest in until the decoration
Of the graves in which they love to
take their part. c
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