Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-02
MONUMENT Is GIVEN TO OLD
SOLDIERS At AGENCY WITH
IMPRESSIVE SERVICE.
EXCELLENT PROGRAM
Many Citizens From Surrounding
Towns Attend Exercises Held
Both In Church and at
=. Cemetery.

most suspicious observances which
has been held at that place for several
years. With speeches, songs and band
the day was kept by the members OF
the G. A. r. and practically all of the
citizens of the town assisted in the
observance. The days program was
featured by the unwilling and presen.
tation to the post of beautiful gran.
tie monument commemorative the
valiant deeds of the hero dead This
part Of the exercises came as fitting
climax to the afternoons observance
In which speakers and singers both
from home and abroad participated
and In which the reglmental band from
Ottumwa had prominent part.
Promptly at 1880 the procession
formed in front of the town hall and
marched to the First Methodist
Episcopal church where the major
part of the speaking and singing was
held. The members Of Winslow post,
G. A. r. and many ole soldiers from
Ottumwa, Batavia, Eldon and other
places were in the line of march which
was headed by the regimental band.
The church was crowded to standing
room long before time for the exer-
cises to begin and people were lined
up in the yard to the sidewalk in
their attempt to catch word or two
Of the services being held within. The
front part Of the church had been re-
served for the old soldiers, and the
band was stationed at one side while
the chorus and choir were seated at the
front Of the edif1ce The platform was
decorated with the national colors in
flags and banners while Immediately
in front of the altar were the wreaths
of flowers which were later placed at
the foot of the newly dedicated monu-
ment.
Open Exercises.
The old soldiers and friends having
arrived at the church, the services
were begun by number of musical
selections by the band. This was
followed by a patriotic song handled
by mixed quartet made up Of Miss
Edith Foster, Mrs, NJ. D. Whipple. Will
liam Reynolds and Frank Wheaton.
Rev. T. J. Myers who lives near
Agency delivered the invocation ask
ing the divine blessing of an all wise
and all seeing God and especially ask
ing remembrance for the men who
braved the lannon's roar and flame IN
the days, of ,'61 He was followed by
the quartet, singing another patriotic
number Rev. Russell Nye of Avery.
and son Of George L. Nye, commander
of Winslow post, gave reading, hav-
ing for his subject. "Lncoln's Gettys-
burg Speech" Ellsworth Rominger
of Bloomfield then followed with the
main address of the day.
Following Mr.. Rominger's talk the
band rendered another selection and
Miss Bess Vass of Eldon gave read
ing, her selection dealing with the
story Of an old soldier and the history
Of his bronze G. A. r. button.
w. s, Stone Gives Talk.
The second speaker on the program
was Warren 8. Stone Of Cleveland,
Ohio. Mr.. Stone gave short, straight
to the point address on the day, its
meaning and the wonderful sacrifice
Of the men to whom honor was being
paid on that day. He said in part:
I'VE meet here today with mingled
feelings of sorrow and satisfaction
Sorrow, for the terrible things which
happened during the strife, but salts.
faction that the world Is rapidly be-
ginning to realize more and more each
year. the great sacrifice which these
veterans made In the days of 81 to IS.
We should forget all Of our differences;
this day should know no north, south
east or west but all unite with loving
hearts in the veneration for the men
who died.
AT this time We should tell the chill
dren the stories of the early day pion-
GERS. Of the pilgrims seeking place
to build home and Of the terrible
hardships which they were compelled
to endure. In this country's history
and her various strifes and turmoils,
through 1t all has been but one great
big motive and that IS for an united
freedom and liberty. The noble men
and women who represent some of the
best blood of the old country have
come here and in this melting pot o.
all nations have done credit to their
home lands We welcome and extend
aid to the poor and oppressed The
little ones should hear the stories Of
the Declaration of Independence,
where for the first time. the principle
was laid down, that all men are equal.
Then followed the heroes of the two
wars with England the revolution.
fighting for freedom of country; and
the war Of 1912 fighting for freedom
of sea- These were followed by the
veterans of the Mexican war.
"The country grew and prosrered for
nearly half a century all under one
flag when there began to be heard,
dark mutterings and gloomy clouds
appeared and our flag was fired upon
from Fort Sumter. and the men went
forth. Some came back after four
years and took up the threads of life
where they had left off. Many fell in
those battles during the four long
years and lie today buried in Airing
ton cemetery among the unknown
dead. No greater love could any man
show than to Law down his life for his
flag Back Of all of this history of the
civil war stands one great figure-that
of Abraham Lincoln. No great eulogy
of him has ever been written. People
come to his grave to gather strength
and not to eulogize. Jesus of Nazareth