Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-05-30
Americas Entrance Into War
Adds to SOlemnity Of the
Occasion
CIRCLE OF GRAVES HAS
DEEPER MEANING TO ALI
Other CeremOnials This Af-
ternOOn Taken Part by
Practically Everyone

Because the United States is at war
with foreign foe and American SOL
diers and sailors have met their death
at the hands of the enemy and because
about 500 Salem boys are now serving
with the colors, the Memorial day ex-
ercises at the cemetery this morning
were more than usually impressive.
1t was with a feeling that the spirits
of the soldiers who are sleeping be-
meath the sod in the sacred circle of
the soldier dead were in closer touch
with the living today than heretofore,
on account of the danger that threat
ems the country and the preparations of
patriotic men and women to meet that
danger.
1t brought closer the real meaning
of the ceremonial that has been wit
messed year after year, vet never fully
realized 1t is realized that only those
who have gone through the hour of
national stress can fuzzy appreciate the
services of doing honor to the men who
died that the nation might live.
AT the ceremonial of the Grand Army
of the Republic this morning, there
iEg, of deeper reverence, of deeper re-
spect for tn circles of mounds on which
flowers were strewn, and on which
small flag fluttered.
1t was impressive to see the gray
headed men who are rapidly approach
ing the time when they will answer the
last roll call and go to bivouac with
their comrades who have gone on be-
fore, to watch them march again
around the monument and cast their
bouquet of flowers at its foot as their
outward tribute to the memory of their
comrades.
Then came the women, with fragrant
floral offerings, and the younger gen
Grafton, the boy scouts, who east their
floral tribute to the memory of the
soldier dead.
The Sons of Spanish American War
veterans were present with their drum
corps The Spanish American War vet
erans were present themselves and as
sisted in the decorating of the graves.
About thirty members of Tia ,Juana
camp No. / Mexican Border service
Veterans, with Vice Commander A. A.
hall in command, were present to fire
the salute to the dead. Three v0lleys
were fired with such precision they
sounded as one rifle.
The ceremonial concluded with the
bugler sounding the soldier IS last fare
well, "taps.' As the last note was
sounded, buglers in the distance took
mp the call and repeated 1t.
The Afternoon Program
The weather prophet who sits in
Portland and hands out the climate
from day to day to the willamette val
ley smiled on Salem and Decoration
day. The early morning brought banks
of clouds which did not in any way in
terfere with the decorating of the
graves nor the exercises at the ceme
terics.
By noon the genuine Oregon sunshine
appeared and by ] clock the various
for the afternoon parade
were ready and in order to march
With the head OF the line of march at
the Marion hotel, the order was given
to parade promptly at l:30. Chief
Cooper and police led, followed bv
Governor Withyeombe and Commander
". C. Faulkner of the G.. A. r. on
horseback.
Grand Army Veterans to the number
OF d IOuOEed, Ildhheu on fdcn SIDE Dy
the Honor Guard girls, wearing their
arm bands of red, white and blue. The
Spanish War Veterans, 3s in number
followed with guard of Honor Guard
girls
For the first time since its organi-
the people Of Salem had the
pleasure of seeing Ga Cherrians in line
under command of Captain MeAllister
The marehers included all the patriotic
fraternal organizat ations
and students from Willamette Uniyer-
sity, led by President Carl Gregg Doney
The line Of march was north on Com
mercial street from the Marion hotel,
east on Chemeketa 10 Liberty, south on
Liberty to State and east on State to
Wilson park. The exercises in the park
selections from the Cherrian
band, an address by Justice Wallace
and the reading Of Lin
,oln's Gettysburg address by the Rev.
R. n. Avis0n.
After the program exercises in mem
Dry Of sailors and marines were held by
the ladies auxiliary on the barges moor
ed at the foot OF Trade street.