Rock Island Argus., 1915-05-31
THOUSANDS GO TO
DECORATE GRAVES
Afternoon Exercises Mt Chippiannock
Cemetery Draw an Unusually
Large Number.
MAYOR MeCONOCHIE IN CHARGE
Strewing OF Flowers Supplemented
With Program In Which j. h.
Scott Gives Grafton.

Bright SKIES neipeQ 10 GraW an un-
| usually large number to Chippiannock
| cemetery this afternoon for the annual
! decoration of graves and the exer-
/ cises held there. Mayor William Nc
Conochie presided and ]. NJ. Beardsley
was marshal OF the day. George
/ Stroehle gave bugle call and follow
/ ing a selection by Stroehle's band,
/ the Memorial day quartet sang ana
the graves OF the departed were deco
rated Prayer was offered by Rev.
I II. c. First and John K. Scott was in
| troduced as the orator.
The address was followed by snoth-
er selection from the band, patriotic
Grafton by Lillian Ward, a song by
the quartet, Airline wagstaff's reading
When My Grandpa Wears His Unit
form on Decoration Day" and the
Grand Army service in charge of John
Buford post
Veterans HOnored.
Mr.. Scott in his address, among
other things said:
a half century has passed since
Lees tired veterans laid down their
arms, and weary and heartsick, turn
ed to the task of rebuilding the south
land. A half century since the grand
review sounded a note of sorrow amid
the national rejoicing at its splendor.
We can almost imagine that we can
see and hear that great parade coming
down Pennsylvania avenue on May
%, 1865; the fiuttering banners, the
swing and noise of long lines of
marching troops. the cheers of multi
tudes; and in the midst of all the
glory and the pride we suddenly re-
alize with grief that our great presi-
dent had just passed on, and that his
heart of gold and unbounded love.
that had so Iongingly sought this day
was stiIled on this plane OF life for 4
ever
That great army of blue marched
out of the city that day, and back into
the northland. back to shop and mill
and farm The implements of war
and the habits of years were laid
aside and the great armies that for.
five long years had lived a life the
very antithesis of peace. quietly melt
ed into the fabric OF our national life,
and took up the burdens of peace as
faithfully as they had borne the bur
dens of war.
The world will never see the like
spectacle OF such vast armies of men,
after so many years of civil strife.
when suddenly freed from all re-
straint, passing in a step from war
riors to men Of home and peace.
Nor was their task finished at APP
pomattox, nor were their burdens laid
aside after the grand review; rather
haF %
build anew the shattered structure of
the union. and to reach out and draw
the nations erring sons back into
unity of purpose and thought.
How we'll the boys who wore the
blue have performed that task is
written large in these so years of our.
national life. The scars of war have
been healed and covered with flowers
Of mutual esteem and respect; a loyal
south invites our love and confidence,
and CoIumbia's rank among the na--
lions of the earth kindles the keenest
national pride.
liberty Worth the Price.
Looking back through the soften
ug influence of 90 years and striving
% forget the pain. and only to recall
he heroic and splendid virtues of
hose men, we can in a degree be
grateful that the Civil war was fought.
The heritage of liberty that the ma
ions wars have secured US is worth
he great price that we paid, and the
sublime example of our soldiers, liv-
ug and dead, will survive as the SUI
,Teme virtue of all loyal Americans
n the centuries to come.
Standing here today in the midst
4 light and life and friends; secure,
" virtue OF your brave hearts, in all
hat makes life worth living, may we
ot thank God that our land in this
1ad hour is secure in the paths of
ieace; and may We hope that this
and and its sons. whose bravery the
rorld cannot doubt, may have the
to follow the lead of our pres
lent along the paths of peace. resist
lg the pin pricks. and with eyes and
lind cast far ahead, looking TO that
right day when men shall beat their
words into plowshares and their
pears into pruning hooks and all
zen shall be indeed sons of one faith
IN the years to come. those who
hall speak here on Memorial day
hall not have the inspiration of your
resence and the lessons that your
lue coats speak; one by one you will
ave taken your places yonder on the
illside with the comrades who have
one before; but be assured your
orks and your memory will not be
,rgotten, for so long as old glory
ontinues TO wave in freedom and the
overs in May time to speak to US
,nderly of love, so long will all our
older dead have the nations devo-
on and respect"
John Maddox Buried.
Funeral services for John Madlock,,-'
1fored who was drowned in the river