Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-05-19
ISSUES PROCLAMATION
G. A. R. COMMANDER CALLS AT
TENTION TO MEMORIAL DAY.
Soldiers Throughout Oregon Urged to
Participate in Exercises on
That Day.

as all UccdSloH set apart lOI uecoIdt
ing the graves of the dead in wars
had its official inception with an order
from General John A. Logan. Issued
on May 5, 1868, this order directed
that veterans observe May 30 for this
reverential purpose. 1t has remained
thus to this day, and though not an
official national holiday, is observed
as such in most of the states. This
is the forty-ffth memorial day since
that time. A month ago Confederate
veterans in similar manner paid their
measure of respect and affection for
the dead of the armies of the lost
cause. The great public though, has
long ceased to differentiate between
those of the one side or the other as
honored veterans. Memorial day as
a custom had its beginning in the
southern states. In the forty-fve
years since General Logan's order,
Memorial day has come to have even
a broader significance than as a day
of honor to soldier dead alone, though
their place is first. In this time it
is reckoned a day for decorating
graves of all who have died.
The following proclamation order
has been issued by S. w. Taylor, de-
partment commander of the Oregon
G. A. R., to the different Posts calling
attention to the observation of Ne
mortal Day on May 80:
Another Memorial Day approaches,
the day we celebrate in memory of
the heroes who have gone to answer
the roll call in the Grand Army be-
yond, the day we celebrate by laying
roses and garlands of flowers on the
low green mounds of those We love.
1t is eminently fitting that we should
commemorate their deeds and that
their memories should be honored by
their surviving comrades.
Fifty years ago our government was
shaken to its foundation by internal
foes, and we passed through the great
est war of modern times, war that
cost us nearly four hundred thousand |
loyal lives for the preservation and
integrity of this grand government,
our country, the refuge of the down
trodden and oppressed of all the
world. And now on this day let us
pledge anew our fealty to comrades
living and renew our obligation to the
memory of the dead by spreading
choicest flowers DER the graves in
which they lie awaiting the last re-
veille; let us keep alive this Me-
mortal Day and teach the rising gen
Grafton the sacredness of these OBJ
servances.
On May 30 let us gather in the
cemeteries, we and our families, the
Spanish War Veterans, the National
Guard, the Woman s Relief Corps, the
Ladies OF the G. A. r., the Sons of ]
Veterans, the citizens of our towns,
school children and the little ones
scarce out of mothers arms.
Let all the mmebers of the G. A.
R. who are physically able march in
through the cemeteries. If
here be some who totter and stumble,
heir clinging love and feeble support
% the flag serves as a touching and
lesson in patriotism to the
rounger Give peace in the process
ion to the Women s Relief Corps and
ladies of the G. A. R. Their loyalty
deserves it, Ask the Spanish War
'eterans to march also. 1t is good on ,
hat day that the old veterans of 81 :
md the men Of '9S still in their
'rlme, with their faithful auxiliaries,
hould march together from grave to I
rave OF departed comrades, leaving .
ach grave fair with flags and flow /
rs. 1t is right that they and all !
ltizens should listen, drawn close to- :
ether in the bonds of memory, love {
nd patriotism, to the solemn taps {
everberating over the graves of our
eloved dead. 1t is a deserved honor
the past. 1t is call of patriotism 1
o the future.
The cemetery is the final levelling
round, and the loye of country is the
reat common bond between us all,
'et there be community of inter- =
st on that day. '
The Department Commander earn
silly desires that the Memorial seas y
Il may be generally observed and !
S great lessons more deeply Impress =
d upon the hearts Of the people than !,
II any previous occasion
Let us not forget or neglect that 9
lost lmportant duty of visiting the l
'hoolS on some convenient day during = =
lie week ending on May so such dates 7
be arranged by the Memorial COM "a u
nttees and the principles and teach = =
rs of the schools. u
Let every comrade. whether spec 7"
lily detailed for that duty or not, G
y aside other engagements and re-
air to the public school there teach -
g, even by his presence, lessons of L
ltrlotism to the young people of our e'
ate, those who are so soon to assume I
e burdens and responsibilities of h
tizenship, a.
Let those who address the children u
eak briefly and simply, striving TO n
lpress upon their minds the great u
'sons of loyalty and good citizen tc
ip.
Every comrade detailed for this SER