The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-06-01
TRIBUTE TO VETERANS
Splendid Address and Services For
Memorial Day.

When the order Of the Grand Army
of the Republic was formulated at
Decatur, Illinois, fifty years ago, on
the sixth day of April, one of the
greatest fraternal organizations Of
the United States originated, and an
order formed which has made Memoir
ial Day sacred to all American eiti
zens," stated Honorable David J,
Palmer OF Washington, Iowa, Past
Conf4nander-in-Chief of the G. A. r.,
in his address given yesterday after
noon at the Central NJ. K. church,
Decoration Day, set apart for the
honoring of the dead and departed
Civil war veterans, reminds the citi-
zenship of this country, OF the great
war of the Rebellion and inspires in
the breasts of all a sense Of pride for
the departed, and feeling of love
and devotion to the flag.
History is sacred-ought not to be
ignored-and cannot be forgotten. The
men who are seeking to strike from
the pages of history the great deeds
of the men who so nobly gave their
lives that this nation might live, are
doing a great wrong to this country.
Every boy and girl has right to know
OF the deeds and yalor of the soldiers
who sacrificed home, and future, for
the cause of their country. To take
away from the American youth its
hero worship of the Civil war leaders,
would rob the patriotism of America
of the red life blood, and would make
Decoration Day a matter of form,
rather than feeling.
Memorial Day ceremonies should
incorporate the paying of tribute to
the living members of the Grand
Army, as well as to the dead. The
mothers, wives and sweethearts, who
remained at home during the four
years of war and who sacrificed all
to the struggle must also be includ-
ed in the remembrance. The women
OF the country, prayed. sewed and
cooked at home, some went to the fir
ing lines as nurses and aides, all do
ing their part for the nation.
An unfinished work still remains
for the remaining comrades, that of
advancing the protection of these
United States to place of~prepared-
ness against war. Few OF the COM
mon people of war-stricken Europe
realized thirty days before the out
break of the World War, the conflict
that was ultimate. No one in these
United States knows what the future
has in store for this country. A
reasonable safe of preparedness can
do no harm to the country, and may
do a world of good. The American
flag has the right to float on land and
sea without molestation.
The afternoon exercises of Memo
rial Day, held in the Central NJ. E.
church, were we'll attended, both by
the patriotic bodies and by local
people. Long before the program op-
ened many were present at the
church.
Music during the afternoon was
ably furnished blythe Central M. K.
Sunday school orchestra, under the
direction of DR.. J. . Tony, and by the
High School Girls Glee Club in the
charge of Miss Sara Williams.
Prominent among the numbers Civ
en- by the orchestra was ST. Glars
Grand National Medley" and inn
portant glee club songs were the Me
mortal Song" and Our Comrades
Sleep"
Following the opening selection by
the orchestra, the invocation was de-
livered by Rev. w. H. Perdew Of the
Central NJ E. church. Memorial Or
ders were read by Adjutant Robert
Kissick.
in the Introductory remarks made
by Post Commander James Wadding,
who was chairman of the meeting,
words of welcome were given, and Mr..
Wadding spoke of the calue of set
ting aside one day year for remem-
brance of the departed veterans.
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was
read by Honorable James A. Dewitt
The orders from the commanding Off
Ger require the annual reading of this
address.
The services held in the church
closed with the concert singing of
America"
Forming under the direction of the
Chief Marshal on North Market
street the parade moved south to First
avenue, thence north to High avenue,
and thence east on High avenue to
Forest cemetery in the following or
der:
Platoon of Police.
Chief Marsha Stone and Aides.
Iowa Brigade Band.
Co. H, Bird Regt., !. N. G., Captain
Claire B, Arnold commanding.
Brigade Band of the w. H. Brund.
age Carnival.
Phil Kearney Post, G. A. R., and all
soldiers and sailors of the Civil war
and other wars.
Disabled comrades in vehicles.
Carriage with Orator OF the Day.
Woman's Relief Corps.
Ladies of the G. A. r.
Citizens in vehicles.
The parade was of unusual length,
and the cars which took the older cit
liens and soldiers to the cemetery
were many. The band of the w. G.
Brundage Carnival which is showing
in the city, showed a splendid spirit
when they formed in line with the
parade and added their service to the
Memorial exercises This spirit of
the Carnival management made many
friends for them, and their music was
delightful. adding to the splendid mu-
sic OF our own band in charming
way
The parade after arrival at the Gem
etery broke ranks, and after the old
soldiers and Company H had been
stationed at the Memorial grounds.
music by the Iowa Brigade Band OPP
efled the formal services George c.