Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-03-01
~ MEMORY OF SOLDIER DEAD
Memorial Services Held by Relief
Corps Members in Post Hall

Most appropriate and impressive
were the memorial services by the
Womsn's Relief Corps at Running ball
on Saturday afternoon. The president,
Mrs. Sylvia G Mork presided, with
Mrs. Myrtle Buchanan at the piano.
Eight vacant chairs, each with belt
and gun mutely told the number of
heroes who have departed during the
past year, and in whose memory this
service was held Eight young girls
decorated each hayonet with a wreath
of evergreen. The secretary, Mrs Jes-
sic Jasperson. read the army record of
the following deceased soldiers: Dani-
ell I. Carr, Jonathan II Swain. Alex
ander C. Morrison, James W. Gilman,
Owe Martin, Nelson Allen, Henry C.
Gosling, Isaac N Groves The order
OF exercises were mainly as laid down
! for this special service in the w K G.
Ritual, but ia the middle of the cere-
monv Mrs. Mary .. Brown stepped to
the flower 'aden altar and read the fol-
lowing original poem:
| Under the folds Of the stars and stripes,
1 Mingled with blossoms fragrantly sweet.
Lay the low, forms Of our soldier dead
Taking their last long sleep.
Carr, Swain. Morrison.
Left the ranks of the boys in blue:
Gilman. Martin, Allen. were called,
Gosling and Groves have followed tool
Once they were young and firm Of step.
Quick TO answer their country's call;
Brayely they marched to the battles front,
Willingly risked their all
Long did the war cloud dim the light.
Awful indie d were the years Of strifei
But these prav, boys with many more
We're saved for a long and useful life.
when the conflict was over, the white dove of
peace
Spread it's pnions Ger this fair land.
And the soldier boys came home again.
Happy triumphant bandl
Long were they spared to the country and as,
Lived through the year Of iubilees
But now they have left US one By one,
Only their graves can we see
Drear Ia the horne Of our loved dead.
Snow and ice are over their beds.
And the wintry wi1d seen,- a dirge,
Bat. when the May-tifne con,-s again.
Well deck each one with Rarlands iS-e
Snowballs white for purity. eyergreens Tor
memory,
While songsters trilI the air
The comrades left for a little while
VIII march TO the city Of the dead:
They u miss the forms that were oft by their
side,
As they move with solemn tread.
Carr, Swain Morrison,
Gone from the ranks Of blue;
Gilman. Martin, Allen.
Missed 'nong the tried and true;
Gosiing relieved from long suffering.
Suddenly Groves has followed too.
Then rest thee brave oneE rest in peace
Revered by the nation you fought 20 save.
Laurela are thine for loyal deeds:
May the starry banner still proudly wave,
Gusrdng your sacred resting place.
Teaching the young 10 be brave and true,
AL through the years your devds shall live
We shall remember you.
The songs of the Corps interspersed
at intervals added much to the impress
siveness OF the service, and the stanzas
of requiem quoted by T o Mork. Judge
MRhoneY delivered TIE memorial sd-
dress. one central thought of which
emphasized the fact that the prepared
ness of the nation consists mainly in
properly inIpfessing the minds Of our
youth and instilling the principles of
patriotism upon those who shall soon
take the responsibilities of government.
Mr.. Mahonsy read startling statistics
showing the large proportion of Civil
war soldiers who enlisted from fifteen
to eighteen years of age, and closed
with poetieal quotation
A number Of near relatives of the
departed soldiers were present and a
large number of veterans, to whom in
vitRtions had been issued Light re-
freshments were served to one hundred
thirty.f five persons.