The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-05-27
DECORATION DAY IN VAL
LEY CITY 50 YEARS AGO

prize drill of Co. F, took place. The
medal to be competed for was offered
by Walter F. Jones, is Of gold, and in
the shape of a Maltese cross, suspend
ed to a pin composed of crossed mus
kets, and bears the inscription, Pre-
scented by w. j. Jones for Excellence
in Drill A squad Of eight men partic'
ipated in the contest, and after thor
ough contest in the manual of arms,
the facings and marching, the medal
was awarded to Robert H. Bailey, as
the most proficient in all movements.
The committee of award consisted Of
Col. Baker, Maj. Gushing and A. J.
Henry, members of the Grand Army.
We learn the medal will be held for
three months, after which it will be
competed for,
Immediately after the competitive
drill, the regular exercises of the day
began. The Second Regiment band,
under the efficient control of Band
Leader STICKY, proceeded to the pub
lie school, where the scholars had as
sembled at the invitation of the Grand
Army, under the direction of Prof.
Cowen, and escorted the teachers and
scholars to the Grand Army headquar-
tiers. Here they were Joined by Co..
F, under command of Capt. Miller, who
formed the escort for the veterans to
the Opera house.
Memorial Day services were here
conducted by the Grand Army, after
which the address of the day was de-
livered by the Rev. Thos. Sims. The
gentleman eloquently dwelt on the re-
suits gained by the struggle in which
those whose memories we this day
meet in honor, laid down their lives,
and which we now as a nation enjoy.
Together with the banner of the
Grand Army was the headquarter flag
of the first division Of the Second
Army Corps, loaned the veterans by
Major John D. Black, who was an Off
Ger on the staff of the division COM
mander during the war. Under this
flag, during the battles of the Wilder
ness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor,
around Richmond, and the siege of
Petersburg, in all of which Major
Black participated, there were killed
over ten thousand five hundred men.
On being called on Major Black step
ped out of the ranks of the veterans
and gave a brief but clear history Of
the thrilling and blood scenes through
which he had followed that flag. AS
he spoke several of the bronzed and
ageing veterans shed tears as their
memories reverted to the scenes and
times mentioned by Major Black.
From the opera house the line Of
march was taken up for Hillside GENE
terry, where the decoration services
were held. AS each grave was deco
rated a volley from the. firing party
composed of veterans was fired over
the grave. The graves of all old SOL
diers having been appropriately and
profusely decorated with flowers do
mated by the ladies of the city and the
school children, the return march to
the city was begun. There the pro-
cession was dismissed.
I'm the procession was the band, Co.
F, Second regiment, the scholars of
the public schools to the number of
about 125, the Grand Army to the num-
Der of 46 members, and citizens in
carriages and on foot.
"Is was the largest procession and
turnout ever seen in Barnes county,
being by actual measurement more
than a mile in length.
"The thanks of the members of the
Grand Army are due and rendered to
Band Leader STICKY, the members OF
the band, to Capt. Miller and members
of the company, to Prof Cowen, the
teachers of the public school and
pupils.
ITO the pupils of the school great
praise is due for the beautiful and
bountiful supply of flowers, wreaths
and crosses contributed and without
which the services would not have
been as beautiful and impressive az
they were.
We would like to pay special tri
butte to those Of the pupils of the
school who so nobly aided in prepar
ing the floral decorations, but to do 81
would be to praise ALL .,..+. ~.
"Take it all in all, the affair wa,
most delightful, and will but tend tt
deepen the love and veneration fol
the service and those in whose homo
it is observed" ~