The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-05-27
Full Report as Published By
the Daily Times of That
Early Day-Many Old Citi-
zens Are Mentioned.

Through the courtesy of Wylie Mel
son, who has what is probably tn
only COPY in existence, the Times-Rec
ord presents to its readers an accoun
of the exercises of Decoration Day IL
Valley City in 1885.
The account is taken from the col
umns of the Valley City Daily Times
of Monday, May 81, 1885. The papel
is yellowed with age, but the printing
is clear and perfect.
Chas. G. Richardson, the publishes
of the Times, was also commander O.
the G. A. r. at that time.
The account, most interesting al
this date, is as follows:
Decoration Day in Valley City was
a day to be remembered by all. The
day opened bright and clear, anC
though warm, continued clear anC
pleasant throughout. At an early
hour, visitors from Sanhorn, Oriska
Ashtabula, Darcy, and other places be
gan to arrive, and farmers with theil
families from a distance of rs anC
80 miles came into the city to pay
homage to the Nations dead and par
ticipate in the ceremonies. Through
out the entire day everything as ar
ranged for was carried out, and the
general public was we'll satisfied with
the program. Only one thing was
lacking, and that was the required
room, in which to entertain all who
came. The committee on the Post OF
the Grand Army, moderated the mum
her of people who were expected to
be present, and failed to provide seat
ing room and other arrangements
which would have been done had full
appreciation of the extent of the visi
tors been considered. AS it was, how
ever, no complaints were heard.
1.-The first exercise was the flag pre-
sentation to Josiah S. Weiser Post, No
66, G. A. R., which took place at the
opera house, at II a. m. Promptly al
the appointed hour, the hall was filled
with interested spectators, among
whom the ladies predominated.
"Post Commander Richardson stated
to the audience the object for which
they had gathered, and on order the
Grand Army post fell into line, and
after organization Of the post, in due
form, marched the veterans to the
space reserved for them in front Of
the stage, on which were seated invit
ed guests.
Major M. G.. Cushing then stepped
to the front of the stage, bearing the
flag which had been purchased by the
ladies of the city. Mrs. Belle Sampson
had been selected to make the presen
tation speech which was worthy tri
butte to the veterans of the war, anC
which in many of it's passages wa!
really eloquent, and brought tears tt
many bronzed cheeks as the speake
alluded to the sufferings, the marches
and the heroism that prompted then
to go to the front at the call of tn
country. Mrs. Sampson feelingly al
luded to the part played during tn
civil war by the patriotic women
the wives, the mothers and the sister
of the Union soldiers-how their sac
rifce, though less burdened wit
weary marches and struggles in tn
field, were none the less arduous thai
those of the soldiers. She spoke O
the flag presentations in time of wa
by the patriotic women of the wal
and contrasted the feeling which az
tuated those women who were instr
mental in preparing the flag which sh
row presented to those who had S
nobly borne the battle brunt.
"As pathetic and patriotic address
it was one fitted to take place anon
the eloquent outbursts of patriots, an
we deeply regret that we are unabl
to give it in full.
"The flag, which is Of blue silk, beal
tifully fringed with gold, and bearin
in the center the badge of the Gran
Army of the Republic, and the word
Josiah S. Weiser Post, No. &C, G..
R., Valley City, Dakota, was receive
by Commander Richardson, who, o
behalf of the veterans briefly thanke
the ladies for the very beautiful gif
Comrade Hitsman, a one-armed We
Gran, was then called to the front an
10 him Commander Richardson Ell
trusted the banner, as color bearer {
the post. After these ceremonies th
Grand Army boys returned to the
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