The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-16
BY H. P. Lason

The press, The Herald and the
Breeze, both of which rendered valu-
able services.
The proceeding began before enter
| ing the cemetery with the commanders
statement at the gateway, followed by
a patriotic prayer, full of Inspiration
and good will, by Rev. Slaughter.
Then the gateway was decorated by
the flower girls In honor of all the
dead. and especially our Confederate
brothers who slumber there.
Then the choir sang a patriotic an
them, entitled: Brave Hearts, Lie
Still"
Then Comrade Clodfelter recited
very nicely and without hesitation:
why I Wear the Badge"
The procession was then formed,
and silently, and with bowed heads
passed through the gate way to the
cemetery.
The ceremony at each grave was as
follows:
Question: Sexton, whose grave Is
this?
Answer: It is the grave OF one OF
your comrades, Comrade ............
| (naming him.
order: Let it be decorated
(Then the flower girls scattered the
| fowers)
(Then a short word of prayer or
scripture reading, or a hynn) and
lastly,
order: Comrades. Salute the dead!
After which the procession passed
in silence and in the order they en-
tered the gate way until all the graves
were decorated.
At one OF the graves, Rev. Cats in
his prayer, repeated with good effect, a
part of Longfellow's Building Of the
Snip
Thou, too, sail on, o ship Of state.
Sail on, o Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all it's fears,
With all it's hopes Of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate.
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with
thee
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers,
our tears,
Our faith triumphant Ger our fears,
Are all with thee, are all with thee.
At the last grave decorated, Rev.
Walker read very impressively the
Grand Army prayer, after which the
procession passed out the gate and lis
tened under the shade Of the trees to
the commanders last words, a very
eloquent prayer by Rev. Smyth,
america" by the choir and the bene
diction by Rev. Slaughter.
The automobiles began to buzz and
every one was soon lined out on the
road, homeward bound when some
thing not on the program was enacted
that shall not be forgotten. The COM
mander said to Comrade Tappan: "The
evening is so delightful, / think I will
not wait for the auto to return, but
grave. and all who provided the flow
will walk $50 would IT, said Com
rade Tappan, "but lack the strength"
You can ride with me-" said Judge
Mcleod. a Confederate brother, and
soon the gray and the blue were seated |
together, homeward bound.
These men were both in the battles |
Of Franklin and Nashville, on opposite |
sides, and would have killed each other |
there. but today the Confederate |
brother without being asked, not for |
publication not as a formality, be- |
cause I doubt if he remembers what |
words he used: but as a neighborIy act |
that occurs every day in this delightful
Florida village between the gray and |
the blue, coined five little words into a |
sentence so grand for the occasion that |
they shall not be forgotten:
you can ride with me-"
And so may it ever be until all of us
shall be resting under the shade trees !
on the other side of the river, and
then on; as an example for the sons
and daughters on both sides to emu
late forever.
HENRY p. LASON,
Commander.
This record is nearly two years old.
Nearly everybody who was here then
are still here.
In this delightful southern climate
ha Of 10 hoy deaf
life very delightful to me and my COM
rades.
1 came here December 8, 1904, from
the blizzard plains of South Dakota,
a heroic state, a delightful people; but
a climate too severe for me and mine.
l was broken in health. ! have been
here ever since summer and winter,
and I find the summer cooler and the
winters warmer.
have learned to love the people OF /
DeFuniak Springs.
They are not MeNcans.
While the war lasted the fighting |
was heroic and deadly, but when it
was over that ended 1t.
Decent northern people seeking for I
a home are heartily welcomed. Law II
abiding citizens will find the most II
home surroundings here. Il
There are no saloons here. This is
the great educational and religious
center in Western Florida.
Political differences in opinion are
tolerated. Men are selected here upon 4
their merits for the local offices.
Our mayor for many years, Hon. A
L. Beech, was the chairman of the
republican central committee of Wal
ton county. He was not chosen be-
cause he was a republican, but be-
cause despite that fact, he was a most
excellent man and q valuable citizen.
All this time the city was largely DEM
ocratic.
I mention this as an evidence, that
speaks louder than words, that the true
spirit of brotherly federation is daily
enacted here.
We have in our midst a real poet,
who has taught the people of West