The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-31
Soldier Dead Are Honored by
Program Which Was Held
at the Grand in the
Afternoon.
RAIN SPOILED PLANS
Parade is Given, But Exercises
at the National Cemetery
Were Of Necessity
Postponed.

Although the rain put an end tc
holding Memorial day exercises al
the National cemetery, Keokuk paiC
homage to the soldier dead, sleeping
in the bivouc of the dead from which
no earthly bugle can wake them, in
the patriotic exercises held yesterday
afternoon at the Grand opera house
The parade which was scheduled as
rart of the observance of the day
was carried out, although a severe
rain storm amounting almost to d
cloudburst, demoralized this, for the
time being. The exercises at the
Grand were impressive and beautiful
although in no measure as full of sen.
timent as they are when held in the
National cemetery where sleep the
heroes of 81 and '65.
The day itself, perhaps, held more
of sentiment and emotion this year
than any previous Memorial day ex-
oept that of 1898 when Keokuk boys
we're offering themselves at the altar
of their country. Within a week of
the day for registration for service in
the armies of their country-service
from which some may never return
and whose memories will be honored
with the dawning of another Memori-
al day, the observance yesterday
seemed unusually solemn. The vet
Grams of yesterday, their lines thinner
wear by year, the soldiers of today,
and the defenders of their country to-
morrow, were all represented in the
parade, and in the exercises. G. A. r.
veterans, Spanish war veterans, Com
pany L, boy scouts and girl scouts,
all took part in the observance OF
the day.
Parade is Started.
The weather which had been threat
ening all morning. and which had
brought rain the night previous. and
part of the morning, cleared shortly
before noon, and the committee de-
cided to stage the parade out Main
street as far as Twelfth street and
return At promptly 2::30 o'clock, A.
j. Hardin, marshal of the day, with
Burton wilkinson and Lieut.. I. H. r..
Rollins, aides, gave the word for the
procession to move. A squad of
Company l. men formed the military
guard which preceded the parade.
The Community band came next, and
behind them marched Company L.,
First Infantry, !. n. G., Capt. Edward
Chase commanding Members of
George " jenkins Camp No. %, U.
S. w. ", followed, and behind them
marched the boy scouts OF America,
and the girl scouts. The boys We're
in full scout uniforms and carried
their banners and guidons. The girl
scouts wore white uniforms. Next
in line was the NJ. w. A. degree team,
and behind them came line of auto
mobiles, each carrying its quota OF
veterans
Exercises at Grand.
The exercises at the Grand opera
house consisted Of the prayer and in
vocation by the chaplain of the day.
Rev. F. G.. BeardsIey who invoked di-
vine blessings and guidance in this
time of national crisis; songs by the
school childrens chorus, which was
massed in the balconies of the house
and the reading of Lincoln's Gettys-
burg speech by Donald Stricken. E.
l.. Williams presided as the president
of the day, and in a fitting manner,
took charge of the afternoons pro-
gram.
Memorial Day Address.
G. Lloyd Norman was the speaker
of the day. He was introduced by
Chairman Williams and spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman, Members of the G.
A. r.. Spanish War Veterans, Ladies
and Gentlemen:
This is day of varied emotions.
To the small boy there is something
in the sight of marching soldiers and
waving flags, and in the sound OF
martial music which suggests cele-
bration and his inclination is to make
evident his patriotism by dint OF
noise But to- the thinning ranks OF
the men in blue this is day of recol-
lections, the roll call of those who will
come no more. Their thoughts span
The intervening years back to battle
nelds, to camp grounds, to hospitals.
10 stirring times when comrades gave
their lives for Old Glory and the I'M
ion.
Peaceful are the hills and dales
Where sleep our warriors and our he
roes, The crash Of guns over the
graves Of the unknown and the known
carries no message to the dead. They
suffer no longer; their pain is ended
we add nothing to their greatness by
our tributes of flowers and of words
zach has taken place safe and Sc
cure in the mysterious realms OF the
beyond leaving behind but single
claim for greatness.
have fought a good fight
Message to the Living.
;. The message of the day is to the
living. AS years roll on and blot out
The memory OF conflicts of the past,
IL is but the weakness of human ma