The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1917-04-25


Their silent tents are spread,
and glory guards, with solemn rudnd
The bivouac Of the dead"
in the north, May 80, has been set
apart by law as a day for honoring
the graves of the soldiers who died i'll
the Civil war and for holding eXercis
es in their memory in order that Their
sufferings and heroism may never be
forgotten.
This idea of strewing the grave
with flowers originated in the south.
Two years after the war an item ap-
peared in the New York Tribune, stat
ing that, "The women of Columbus,
Mississippi, have shown themselves
impartial in their offerings made to
the memory of the dead. They strewed
flowers alike on the graves of the
Confederate and the National sol
diers." A thrill of tenderness spread
through the north and it is this
thought of tenderness and love that
is so well expressed by Frances Miles
Finch in his verse of "The Blue and
the Gray"
Il No more shall the war cry sever,
Or the winding rivers be red;
They Danish our anger forever
When they laurel the graves of our
dead!
Under the sod and the day
Waiting the judgement day
Love and tears for the Blue,
Tears and love for the Gray
Yet, for long while. this beautiful
tribute to both the northern and south
ern soldiers was neglected in the north
SO finally, in May, 1868, General John
A. Logan issued an order saying that
May 80 should be set apart for the
purpose of decorating the graves Of
the comrades who had died in the
defense of their country Since then,
this custom has become widespread.
although, this date is not held by all
the states of the south.
AS we of today gently and silently
lay down our flowers on the graves
of the heroic dead, dim visions seem
to float before our eyes. Again, we
are in the midst of a great struggle.
We hear the buglc give forth the call
that sent thrill through the hearts
of the men of 61 We hear the great
orators urging and peading. We see
the pale faces of the women; the flush
ed faces of the men. We have our
hands on their shoulders as they enlist
in the great army of freedom. We see
them bid farewell to their loved ones.
How they March! keeping step to the
wild music. In our vision, we are
with them on the battlefield. We hear
the groans of the wounded; the gasp
of the dying: the cheers of the living.
Those heroes are dead; they are asleep
underneath the hemlock and the viii
low. Some lie on the plains under
meath the glare of the sun. Garth,
now, may turn red with other wars
they are at peace. In the midst of bat
tie, in the roar of the conflict. they
found the serenity of DEATH, The war
is over. 1t is for us to bury its pas
sions with the dead We must bury
them in order that "the government
of the people, by the people, and for
the people, may not perish from the
earth" We say with Robert G. In
gersoll that 1--WE have one sentiment
for the soldier living and dead
cheers for the living. tears for the
dead"
After we have placed our floral Of
ferings on the graves of our dead they
may wither, but let's not fail to let
the memory of these heroic martyrs in
sPire in us a purer and nobler life
When we are all mustered out for
grand review with these heroes and
martyrs before the eyes OF our Master
may we all receive his blessings and
hear his lips say, well done thy good
and faithful servant. thou hast been
faithful over few things, ] will make
thee ruler over many things. Enter
now into the joys of thy Lord"
Hear the words our Savior hath
spoken.
Words of life. unfailing and true;
Careless one, prayerless one, hear and
remember,
Jesus says, Blessed are they that
do"
All in vain we hear his command
ments;
All in vain His promise too.
Tearing them, fearing them, never can
save US
}lessed, o blessed, are they that do"
with joy may enter the city,
from sin, from sorrow and
strife,
Sed, glorified, now and forever.
may have right to the tree of
Afe.'