Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-30
NEWS OF STEELTON|
MEMORIAL DAY
IN LOWER END
Thinning Lines of Veterans
Trudge Over Hills to Out
lying Cemeteries

All lower Dauphin county laid aside
its work to-day to pay annual tribute
to the boys of Blue and of Gray who
during the stirring days of 81 to '65
argued out and settled forever the
question of whether or not this should
be one United States
While, of course, the holiday was
seized upon by many for holding the
long-planned family picnic, fishing trip
or Tor settling the disputed tennis game
or canoe race, the uppermost thought
in every mind was the deeds of the few
bent and grizzled old veterans who
wearily struggled to keep step with
the ranks of brisk young men upon
whom the nations integrity depends
to-day, as the columns wound their
way over the hills to the various GEM
eteries in Steelton, Middletown, High
spire, Oberlin and Falmouth where
simple memorial services were held.
In Steelton Sergeant Samuel w. Las
comb Post, 351, G.. A. r., was in
charge of the celebration. Early this
morning bent and grizzled "Corpor-
Iars Guard" remnant of the post
which once mustered nearly a regi-
ment, assembled at the post rooms in
North Front street to proceed to High
spire. The trip was made in car
riages.
Here the veterans were met by big
delegation from the three Highspire
Sunday schools headed by the Citizens
band and the Highspire Drum corps.
Following orations by the Rev. B. L.
e. Baer, pastor of the Church of God,
and the Rev. H. F. Rhoad, of the
United Brethren church, the usual
rites for former comrades were OBJ
served at the old Bethel Graveyard
and at the Highspire cemetery.
HOnOrs at ObeTIin
Their mission completed at Highspire
the veterans left the crowds and un-
accompanied found their ways over
the hills to Oberlin where they were
met by another large assembly.
Here a rather elaborate program
was presented. The memorial services
opened with a selection by the Oberlin
band and the singing of America by
the assemblage. The Rev. c. H
Heiges, pastor of the Church of God,
Enhaut, spoke the invocation and the
audience sang The Battle Hymn of
the Republic"
Lincoln's Gettysburg address was
then read to the cheering of the hun
drcds present. Again the Oberlin
band played. Then the Rev. II. S.
heiffer, pastor of Neidig Memorial
United Brethren church, rose to deliv-
er the Memorial orarlon. While the
assemblage listened in rapt attention
he recalled the stirring days of 81, re-
kindled flashing fire in the eyes of the
tottering veterans and brought to the
younger generation a renewed knowl-
edge of its responsibilities to the ma
ton.
Rev. Keiffer's address was followed
by the rites of the firing squad, the
singing of Onward Christian Sol
diers'' benediction by the Rev. Mr.
Drummer, of Bressler, and the decora-
ton of graves. The Steelton veter-
ans then returned to their homes for
dinner and a short rest.
Reassembling at the post rooms in
North Front street shortly after noon
members of Sergeant Lascomb post
prepared for the annual parade. The
feature OF the procession was several
hundred school children who marched
IN Iine' each carrying a small flag.
me parade was led by Chief Mar
shall Harry Blocker and sixteen mount
ed men including several members of
the Governors Troop, excused from
duty in Harrisburg by Captain George
c. Jack.
The services at Baldwin cemeterv
opened at the announced hour, with
the assembly by w. r. Lewis. Ac-
companied by the crack Steelton band
the audience sang America. which was
tollowed by prayer by the Rev. w.
{. Sanderson, pastor of the First
Melhodlst church. Ihe band gave an
other selection and Adjutant c. E.
Scott read the order of the day. This
vas followed by Lincoln's Gettysburg
address read by Charles e. Smith.
Following another selection by the
pand, Phll ). Meyer, Dauphin County
solicitor, and one of the most fluent
speakers at the local Bar, delivered
the memorial Grafton. Handker-
chlefs were much in evidence when
the speaker concluded
FolloWing Attorney Meyers address
the school children strewed flowers on
lne veterans graves and w. r. Davis
sounded the recall. The band nIaved
the Star Spangled Banner and the Rev
q. n. Lauffer, pastor of st. Johns
Lutheran church, gave the benedic-
ton.
Then came TAPS"