New Britain herald., 1916-05-30
NEW BRITAIN JOINS
 IN HONORING DEAD
Memorial Day Exercises Held and
 Graves Decorated
PARADE THIS AFTERNOON

Grand Army Veterans, Spanish War
 Veterans, State Militia and Private
 Citizens Place Floral Offerings on
 Graves in Cemeteries This Morning.
 Undaunted by the threatening weather, New Britain today joined with the gray haired veterans of the civil war and the middle aged veter- ans of the Spanish-American war Tn l paying homage to their soldier dead. l The Soldiers monument in Central park is artistically draped in the na tionaI colors and around it are strewn garlands of spring flowers. Each little mound in the various cemeteries, J marking the final resting place of > some soldier who once offered his life 1 for his country, has been decorated with flowers by loving comrades and 1 the rapidly thinning ranks of the veterans once more assembled TOT public inspection. Throughout the city the holiday was observed. Fac tories and the larger stores ceased operations as did almost all other lines of business and during the day American flags have been HoatlnS from all public buildings and nun" dreds of private residences, at halt mast until noon and at full mast until sun down.
 Early this morning tine Grand Army flower committee, composed or Abram Howell, Orlando Sheldon and George c. Root met at G. A. k. Halt to accept floral contributions and the auxiliary committee of the Spanish War veterans met in Jr. o. u. A., M. hall for the same purpose.
 This morning the Grand Army veterans were taken in automobiles to the cemeteries where exercises were conducted and flowers were placed on the graves of all dead soldiers The committee in charge of decorating the graves in Fairview cemeteries was William Sternberg, l.. D. Penfie1d and Charles May In the Catholic emeteries the committee was William E. Stewart, Michael Me- Mahon and John J. Hayes. William E. Latham and Gilbert J. Bentley were in charge of the decorating at the Newington cemetery. The Spanish War veterans also decorated the graves of their deceased members This noon members of the Stanley Woman's Relief corps served the old veterans and their assistants with refreshments. Tn this they were as- sisted by the auxiliary of L. D. Pen- field camp, s. Of V
 In Fairview cemetery at the plot where so many veterans are buried an unusual floral display was ar ranged for today. A large floral urn, placed in the center of the burial
 rrrif h yCS,r1 n plants, the colors of which blended to make red, white and blue. The militia and Spanish war veterans also decorated graves this forenoon.
 The annual parade will take place this afternoon when the Civil war veterans, the Spanish war veterans, Sons of Veterans, the German war veterans and all other allied military, patriotic and civic organizations, in cluding the militia, will form in line Of march on the north side of West Main street. Major Ira E. Hicks will be marshall of the day and the parade will be along the west side Of Main street to the South church and back on the east side to the monu- ment, where the band will play the funeral dirge as the surviving veterans of the Civil war march slowly through and the other bodies in the parade stand uncovered and at attention. The parade will then proceed up West Main street to Park Place, where the line will be formed for dress parade, the reading or Lincoln's immortal Gettysburg ad- dress, the reading of the necrology list and a short address by Mayor George A. Quigley.
 of hn If will be Marshall Ira E. Hicks, Com mander Frederick V. Streeter and aides, with the police escort. Then will come the band, the state militia, the German war veterans, the Span ish war veterans, Sons of Veterans, Grand Army veterans, Citizens Corps, Patriotic Order Sons of America, American Mechanics, Elks Knights of Pythias, Tierney Guards and Boy Scouts.
 Other Activities Today.
 There were several baseball games in the city this morning and several more are scheduled for this after noon. large number of people, taking advantage of the holiday, have left the city for short trips and many more are intending going to Lake Compounce to the celebration there this evening"
 Rev. Dr. Cross Sermon.
 Two important pre- Mem oriaI Day services have featured the exercises this year. On Sunday Rev. Dr. Earle E. Cross preached a special sermon tc the veterans and their allied or ganizations, a summary of which follows:
 We do not honor you men of the l