Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-01
MEMORIAL DAY
Seth Williams Post, GAR,
Holds Usual Observance
Features Of Day Are Parade
And Appropriate Exercises
Judge Martin |. DurgIn Of Milo De.
liyers an Eloquent Address

uvctS al IiVVueUt AuuTeSS
Memorial day--that day of sad
memories all over the nation--was OBJ
served Saturday by the members of
Seth Williams Post, No. 10, G.. A r.,
In the same manner and with the
same impressive ceremonies with
which they have for nearly As years
past discharged, each year, their sa-
cred trust of visiting on the both of
May the graves of their comrades
who had passed before and with ap-
propriate exercises placing upon them
garlands of beautiful flowers.
The passing of the years has done
much to lessen to the younger genera
tions who have come forward since
the days of the Civil War the sad
ness of Memorial day, but to those
who participated in the great struggle
and to those whom they left at home
and who were made to feel the horrors
of war; the day is and will remain to
them, the saddest of the year.
The Morning Exercises
The observance Saturday was car
the members of the Post and those
of its allied organizations. The morn
ing hours were devoted to the decora-
ton of the graves of comrades in the
outlying cemeteries, detachments from
the Post and Henry G. Staples Camp,
S. of v, visiting those places and
placing upon each grave testimonial
of memory and a miniature of the old
flag under which they had died.
Another feature of the forenoon was
the tribute to the sailor dead. At about
1890 delegation of the Relief Corps
and the Sons of Veterans Auxiliary
proceeded to the Kennebec bridge and
with appropriate exercises cast upon
the waters of the river beautiful flow
ers. This ceremony included prayer
by Rev. Brian c. Roberts, rector of
st. Marks Episcopal church, and
singing by the ladies, but was of neces-
sity shortened because of the unfav-
orable weather, a cold southeast wind
making it very comfortable.
The Parade
The exercises of the afternoon be-
gan at 2.15, with the formation Of the
parade on Water street. Col. Levi NJ.
Poor acted as marshal of the day and
was assisted by Major T. M. ]. En-
right as chief of staff and Clarence
Haskell as aide. The parade was
quickly formed and moved in the fol-
lowing order by way of Water. Bridge
and State streets to Monument Park:
Platoon OF Police, L. j. Colgan, city
marshal
Levi NJ. Poor, marshal of the day
Major Thomas NJ. j. Enright, chief of
staff. Clarence Haskell, Aide
Augusta Cadet Band, Frank A. Dennis
director
Co. NJ, I'd Infantry, Fred B. Perley cap
tain commanding
Henry G.. Staples Camp, Sons of Vetef-
ans, Lawrence H. Moulton captain
commanding
Disabled soldiers in carriages
Seth Williams Relief Corps
Ladies of the G. A. X.
Seth Williams National Relief Corps
Sons of Veterans Auxiliary
Carriage containing ex-GoYernor FRED
erick w. Plaisted, Mayor Elmer n.
Newbert, Major Greenleaf T. stevens
and Hon Martin L. Durgin of Milo,
orator of the day.
On arriving at the park the column
was massed around the soldiers monu-
ment and very impressive program
was carried out which was as follows:
Address, Commander A. L. Brown; mu-
sic, Augusta Cadet Band; singing, school
children; prayer, Chaplain j. w. White;
presentation of wreath. etc, Mrs. Ar
thur l. Brown: decoration of monument
by Past Commander George E. Gay. as
sisted by Sons of Veterans; prayer,
Chaplain ]. w. White; music, Augusta
Cadet Band; singing. school children
Following the conclusion of the eSer-
cises at the monument the column was
reformed and moved to the Penney Me-
mortal church on Grove street, where
the following services were held, May
or Newbert presiding;
Beyond the Gates of Paradise"
Augusta Cadet Band
Invocation, Rev. Brian c. oRberts
Coward Christian Soldiers"
Augusta Cadet Band
Reading of Orders and Lincoln's Get
tysburg Address.
Nearer, My God. to Thee. n,s
Grafton, Hon. Martin L. Durgin of :, Milo 10
America" Band ana audlence
Benediction, Rev. Brian c. Roberts
Judge Durgin spoke in part as fol-
lows:
Commander Of Seth Williams Post,
Comrades of the Grand Army of the
Republic, fellow citizens;
Once more as the breath of summer
is waited to us across the border-land
Of spring, we come to scatter spring
time flowers over the graves of our
soldier dead in memory of their great
heroism, and to do honor to their sur
yiyors. And how could we render
greater honor to the living, or sweeter
service to the dead, than with tender
hearts and loving hands to lay upon
the silent habitations of the departed
these sweet little messengers of spring
silently telling us of the Life Immortal.
Almost so years ago the last shot in
that memorable conflict between the
North and the South was fired; the
last reyeille sounded its measured
taps: the last silvery bugle call melted
to silence, and the last veteran mus
tered out. For four long weary years,
the North and South had faced each
other in a death grapple; for four long
years the rugged cornf1elds of the
~,u-+h or5 tho snowy cotton fields or