New Britain herald., 1914-05-30
VETERANS DECORATE
 GRAVES OF COMRADES
Honor Memories Of Soldiers Who
 Fought This COuntTy'S Battles.
CHILDREN CONTRIBUTE FLOWERS


 Are Remembcred-Parsd Passes Up Main Street and Counter marched-MemoriaI Exercises.
 Rain clouds, not war clouds, hung threateningly over New Britain this morning, but, undaunted as they. were in '61, the old soldiers assembled bright and early to honor their many comrades who fell in the defence of their country.
 An abundance of flowers, con- tributed by patriotic school children in all parts of the city. were on hand at the G. A. R. headquarters when the veterans made their appearance and the work of decorating the graves of old soldiers was begun at once, un- der the supervision Of Abram Howell. chairman of the flower committed Gilbert J. Bentley had charge of the detachment which beautified the graves of 2S4 old soldiers in Farview cemetery. He was assisted by Henry M. Burckhardt, Lewis w. Robbins Charles w. Smith, Fred H. May, James G. Henderson, William H. Will loughby. l.. P. Wager, James Relyea. Frank Goddard, Fred w. Henderson and E. w. Schultz.
 William F. Stewart had charge of the decorating of 112 graves at the Catholic cemeteries and with him went Michael McMahon, Robert Smith, Frank Goodrich and E. Myron Jones. William Latham saw to it that the nine graves in the Newington cemetery were not forgotten. In all, the graves of 405 dead patriots were attended to, with flowers from the school children, the Woman's Relief corps and many others.
 We certainly appreciate all the flowers We have received" said Com mander Frederick V. Streeter. Con trary to the situation last year, we had an over abundance of flowers and, think, there is not a grave of a soldier rtrr' New sfsrftaiYia which we did not visit today"
 At 1O:3O o'clock the country's old defenders, who had been about town for the greater part of the morning, assembled at their respective head quarters. Marshal Abram Howell and his aids, C. H. Beaton. William Stew art, s. M. Leonard, F. Hiltbrand, A. G. Smith. Elmer Hurlburt, Colonel A. l.. Thompson and Elmer Nipples, made short work of arranging the procession, which appeared in the following order when about to start from in front of St. Marks church on West Main street:
 Order of Procession.
 Platoon of Police.
 Marshal and Aids.
 Band.
 Co I, C. N. G., Capt. Ladbury. Co. E, c. N. G., Capt. F.. R. Low. Spanish War Veterans, Commander
 +. Pohl.
 German War Veterans. Captain Com
 manding.
 Sons of Veterans, F. w. Schultz Com
 manding.
 Civic Orders.
 G. A. R., r. V. Streeter, Commanding. As the boys in blue went through the streets, many displayed badges and medals, which they won for va rious deeds of valor. Major Ira F.. Hicks carried the sword he used in the battle of Petersburg.
 Line of March.
 The line of march was as follows. The procession moved slowly down West Main to Main, up Main as far as to St. Mary's church, counter marched down Main to Franklin square and counter marched up Main street to the soldiers monument at the park, many of the vet erans riding In automobiles. The G A. R. passed through the monument, then through the line. which was open order. All but the G. A. k. formed in open order in front of c. A. R. hall As the G. A. R. members marched into their hall, the military companies and all the other societies dlsbanded. returned to their various quarters and the impress sive exercises were over
 In c. A. R. hall. the Ladies' Aux iliarv of the Sons of Veterans served lunch to the veterans.
 As concerns the veterans associa- ton, no activities will take place this afternoon. Tn past years, it has been the custom to hold memorial ser vices in the afternoon of Decoration day, but this year, these were held on the evening preceding Memorial day. instead.
 Memorial Exercises.
 The exercises last evening were held in the First Congregational church. and were opened with pa trlotic reading by Captain c. H. Beat on. Patriotic solos were rendered by MT. Knox and the entire audience joined in the choruses. The roll of honor was then read by Adtutant r.. D. Penfield of Stanley Post, after which Carl Nixon delivered Lincoln's Gettysburg address.
 Department Chaplain w. r. Hilton Of Hartford was the speaker of the evening and he moved his listeners with his forcible arguments Re-