The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-31
|KEOKUK PAYS homage To
. MEMORY Of SOLDIER DEAD

Ing grounds OF the soldier dead, the
platoon OF police divided to form a
lane through which the soldiers
would pass. A few steps up the road
Company L and boy scouts did the
same thing, standing and saluting as
the soldiers passed. Through the
lane thus opened passed the old SOL
diers.
Returning the salute Of soldiers,
scouts and policemen, the veterans,
heads barred. entered the National
cemetery, followed the children
, known dead. where the first exercises
of the afternoon were held Forming
a circle about the monument, the
children sang Nearer My God to
Thee" and after their song, Mrs.
Marie Busch, chaplain, offered short
prayer. The children were each Civ
en- bouquet and laid their flowers
reyeren.ly at the head stone Of the
graves in the cemetery This was an
impressive and beautiful ceremony
with the squad Of old soldiers on one
side OF the quadrangle of graves. and
the stacked arms of the guards at the
other side.
Homage to Dead.
Wreaths had been placed on the
monument to the unknown dead, and
the soldier graves in other than the
National cemetery had previously been
decorated with flags and bouquet.
The bouquets were made up yesterday
morning in the various school build
ings of the city.
From this part of the cemetery the
crowd moved to the speakers stand
situated in q natural ampitheatre.
Here the main exercises Of the day
were carried out The slopes were
lined with people, the speakers stand
was decorated appropriately and the
school children's chorus, the girls in
white, made a pretty setting for the
impressive and beautiful ceremonies
which followed.
Exercises at Stand.
Major w. B. Collins. veteran of the
war, was president of the day. In his
characteristic way, Major Collins
opened. the afternoons exercises. He
paid tribute to the men who were
sleeping under the sod, and to those
who marched to pay them homage.
The Rev. John c. Sage. rector of st.
Johns Episcopal church. offered
prayer which was feryent and beau
tiful. Following the chaplain's invo-
cation. the school children's chorus
sang Iowa. Oh Iowa. directed by
Professor Hayden.
Lineoln's Gettysburg address was
read by S. Fl. Johnston in an imrres-
sive manner The chorus and the con-
course of people stood during the sing
ing OF the national air, THE Star
Spangled Banner" Following this
came the address of the day by the
Hon. James B. Weaver. Mr.. Weaver
eloauently sketched the heritage left
us by the soldiers and pioneers Of the
Mississippi valley. He asked that it
be kept bright and that we be worthy
OF 1t.
The speaker also referred 20 the
prominence Of Keokuk and this sec
ton OF the country in the life Of his
father. General Weaver. His address
is to, be found in another part of this
paper.
Services Come 20 Close.
The singing of America" followed
the Grafton and benediction was pro- |
nounced by the Rev. Mr.. Sage. The
firing squad from Company L fired a |
salute over the graves. and taps
echoed across The green hills OF the
National and Oakland cemeteries |
Memorial day services we're brought I
to fitting close. In the words OF the !
poet who wrote the following in the
National Magazines:
They are marching with hating
step
A hating step and SLOW
And many in those blue clad ranks
Have hair as white as snow.