Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-05-25
HISTORIC ORDER IS
READ TO C. A. R.
Copy Of Document Creating
+. Memorial Day Received
by Veterans

A copy Of the original order which
created Memorial day, forty,eight
years ago, has been received by D.
Webster, adjutant of Sedgwick post,
and has been read before the post.
The order was issued in Washington,
d. c., May >, 1868, and is signed by
John A. Logan, commander in chief
of the first organization of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
The order contains the hope that
the day will be observed from year
to year while survivor of the war
remains to honor the memory of his
departed comrades, "
The order in full follows:
Washington, d. c., May 5. 1868.
General Orders No. IL.
l. The 30th day of May. 1868. is
designated for the purpose of strew-
lhg with flowers, or otherwise dec
Grating the graves Of the comrades who
died in defense Of their country dur.
ing the late rebellion, and those
bodies now lie in almost every city.
village and hamlet church yard in the
land. In observance no form or cere-
mony is prescribed, but posts and
comrades will in their own way ar
range such fitting services and testi-
monials of respect as circumstances
may permit.
We are organized comrades, as
our regulations tell us, for the pur-
pose, among other things, "of pre-
serving and Strengthening those kind
and fraternal feelings which have
bound together the soldiers, sailors
and marines who united to suppress
the late rebellion" What can aid
more to assure this result than by
cherishing tenderly the memory of
our heroic dead, who made their
breasts a barricade between our
country and its foes2 Their soldier
lives were the reveille of freedom to
a race in chains and their death a
tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms.
We should guard their graves with
sacred vigilance. All that the conse-
Grated wealth and taste of the nation
can add to their adofnment and Sc
curity is but fitting tribute to the
memory of their slain defenders. Let
no wanton foot tread rudely on such
hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths
invite the coming and going of rever-
ent visitors and fond mourners. Let
no vandalism of avarice or neglect
no ravages of time testify to the
present or to the coming generations
that we have forgotten as a people
the cost of a free and undivided re-
public.
If other eyes grow dull and other
hands slack, and other hearts cold in
the solemn trust; -noufs shall keep it
well as long as the light and warmth
OF life remains to us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed
gather around their sacred remains
and garland the passionless mounds
above them with the choicest flow
ers Of spring time; let us raise above
them the dear old flag they saved
from dishOnor; let us in this solemn
presence renew our pledges to aid
and assist those whom they have left
among us sacred charge upon the
nations gratitude the soldiers and
sailors widow and orphan.
2, 1t is the purpose Of the com
mander in chief to inaugurate this
Observance with the hope that it will
be kept from year to year, while
survivor Of the war remains to honor
the memory Of his departed com.
rades. He earnestly desires the public
press to call attention to this order
and lend its friendly aid in bringing
1t to the notice of comrades in all parts
Of the country in time for simultaneous
compliance thprpwi+b
3. Department commanders viii
use every effort to make this order
effective.
BY command of
John A. Logan,
Commander-in-C Chief.
N. P. Chipman,
Adiutant General