Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-05-31
HONOR AND FLOWERS FOR
THE SOLDIERS
Memorial Sunday and Decoration
Day Appropriately Observed in This
City by Patriotic Exercises

The last Sunday in May and the
thirtieth day of May have long been
observed by the people of this nation
as days on which patriotic and mem
orlal exercises are held for the honor
and memory or the soldiers and
and navy and in keeping of this GUS
tom patriotism and loyalty were
manifested by the citizens of this
city and county on Sunday and Wed
nesday of this week
| The memorial services Sunday
were interfered by rain and threat
ening weather and the attendance
was not large. Unfortunately only
one of the soldiers living in this vic
unity, Comrade A. ]. .Johson, was
| able to attend the services. The
eight voices and was excellently rem
| dered. The sermon was delivered by
| the Rev. Thompson, pastor of the
Baptist church. The theme of his
sermon was "The seen and the un-
t seem. In developing this theme he
illustrated by word pictures the
| mighty influences which are at work
In the universe and the results which
they develop. Also that in the pres
ent, the time seen, we are working
for the future, the unseen, and that
while one soweth another reapeth.
In applying this to thoughts in con-
nection with the memory of the old
soldiers he mentioned many. of the
things which have developed from
the results of the great war in which
the soldiers had offered to sacrifice
their life. The war was the seen and
the results the unseen at the time
of the conflict.
The dawning of Decoration Day
was as gloomy as that of Memorial
Sunday had been and showers of
rain fell until 10 o'clock which pre-
vented large crowd assembling for
the forenoon but the program was
caFled- out as arranged. Mobiliza-
tione took place IN front of the court
house and the procession proceeded
ito Wa-Keeney- cemetery. The order
of the procession was officer of the
day and color bearer, squad of the
Kansas National Guards, Wa-Keeney
band, boy scouts, old soldiers and
citizens in autos. AT the cemetery
the ritualistic exercises of the G. A. |
R. took place, the guards fired a sal
ute and the graves of the soldiers |
were decorated with flowers by the |
boy scouts.
The afternoon exercises commenc-
ed at 2 o'clock and the big court |
house was packed full to overfowing /
and many citizens who wanted to
hear the exercises could not do so.
The music was furnished by a mixed
quartette with Miss Margaret Hard
man at the piano. c. c. Yetter of
Ogallah,acted as presiding officer for
the G. A. R. and read the National
order No. 4 ordering the observance
of the day. Prof. j. H. Niesley then
read General Logan's order estab-
fishing the day and President Lin
coins Gettysburg address.
The principal speaker for the
occasion Hon. J. T. Botkin, secre-
tary of state, was then appropriately
to the audience by l. T.
Purcell.
In opening his address Mr. Botkin
called attention to the fact that
Memorial day is not day in which the
spark of animosity which existed
years ago between the north and the
south, is stirred again into a fame
but it is now a day of forgiveness
and a day when men are honored for
the vaiient deeds and spirit they have
shown He paid a tribute to the old
soldiers of the rebellion declaring
each of them . hero. He told the
causes which led to the war and the
things which resulted therefrom, pres
erving the union and iberating a
human race. He said that for forty
years after the civil war the soldiers
had dominated the affairs of this
nation Their work was well done
and it is up to US to do as well.
Everyone had his work to do and
n the present crisis when our nation
s involved in a war, a war which
vas thrust upon Il, it IS our indiv- {
dual duty to stand by the president I;
md help him in bringing our nation .
% peace and prosperity again. His
address was an able one, not fewery,
,ut well delivered and filled with ex- {
,ellent thought and at many times
lie was applauded by the audience
which showed that he was express
ng sentiment which thew apuroyed Y