Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-03

Perfect weather crowned the Memorial
day exercises in burlington Monday,
and there was a great outpouring of
revcrent citizens to watch the longest
parade in years and to applaud the
veterans as they marched valiantly be-
hind the flag. Details of Grand Army
men had decorated the graves of COM
rades in various outlying cemeteries in
the morning and in the afternoon the
usual ritualistic exercises were held in
Elmwood cemetery. The Grafton OF the
day was delivered at the Y. NJ G.. A.
hall and this was followed by n reception
and banquet served by the Woman's
Auxiliary. 1t was the 18th observance
of Memorial day by Stannard Post, No. ,,
G. A. r.
Captain Ira L. Reeves. as marshal of
the day, led the long procession down St.
Paul street to Main shortly after two
O'Clock, and through streets lined with people
1t wendell its imposing way to the ceme-
terry. Following the marshal and staff
came the Second United States Cavalry.
with Colonel Dickman in command. The
University of Vermont battalion turned
out in force and made a fine appearance,
as did the National Guardsmen OF Com
pany u. There were the gayly plumcd
Patriarchs Militant, and interested boy
scouts, members of the city council and
other city officials in automobiles, Sons
of Veterans and veterans Of the Spanish
War and chief of all 43 soldiers Of '6l-65
who marched and a larger number than
ever before who rode.
EXERCISES AT y. NJ. c. A. HALL
The unusual length of the parade, and
the counter marching of the regulars to
allow the rest Of the procession to pass
into the cemetery, took more time than
in former years and it was not until $40
o'clock that the exercises were begun
at the Y NJ. c. A. hall. Here Com
mander George p. Martin of Stannard
Post presided and Adjutant c. D. Will
liams read the Memorial day orders
prayer was offered by the Rev. C. j.
staples and Lincoln's Gettysburg adj
dress was read by Hermann Z. Knicker-
booker. The Grafton of the day was de-
livered by Eugene Z. Clowse of Hard
wick, an eloquent speaker, whose address
abounded in patriotism and in tender
sympathy for the living and dead who
fought to preserve the Union Brief re-
marks were also made by Mayor A. S.
Drew.
Mr.. Clowse quoted an eminent YER
mcnter who has characterized Memorial
day a s "the Sabbath of patriotism" He
briefly mentioned the primary causes Of
the CIVIL War, tracing them back to the
constitution where the trainers of that
historic document unconscously compro-
missed with slavery. Then came the cot
ton gin and the revoutionizing Of the
milling industry, the gradual loss by the
south of the balance of power in Con-
gress and the determined purpose of the
North to save the Union by preventing
secession. The result of the heroic
struggle was to prove, he said that Il
am my brothers keeper"
No war was ever like it or waged for
similar purpose. Nearly million lives
were lost to establish the fact that free
dom is mankinds birthright. To Abra-
nam Lincoln was paid the tribute merited
by the greatest character of the 18th
century Mr. Clowse painted a vivid
word picture of the soldier boy of 81.
who was not trained for war In every
hber as is the youth of Europe, but vet
Fought with every bit as much IL not
even greater bravery. To you, COM
rades. he said, a grateful nation will
ever render honor when the last veteran
mas responded to the final roll call
Vermont regiments brought back every
nag they took away. and he showed by
statistics that casualties in many regi.
ments from North and South exceeded
those Of The Light Brigade" More
soldiers are buried in Virginia than
Great Britain had lost in 100 years pre-
vlous to last August. The dead would
form column reaching from Burlington
to Boston and back and 10 to 90 miles
beyond, column $50 miles in length
The blood of these men would fill a
trench four feet wide, three feet deep
and one mile long,
He closed with an eloquent tribute to
the bronze button that is worn by men,
bers OF the Grand Army and quoted
Bryan who said that here every man is
king and no one cares to wear a crown
The q. A. r. button may we'll be likened
to kingly crown
COmrade &. r. putney read racoIntion,