Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1917-06-02
MEMORIAL DAY
Custer Observes Memorial Day Wednes-
day With Patriotic Speeches and
Exercises at Opera House.


served at Custer last Wednesday in a
spirit and manner that will not soon be
forgotten. The program as arranged by
the committee differed from like OBJ
seryances of other times in that nc
speaker was brought from outside but
the program was made up wholly Of
local talent. The march to the ceme-
terry and the decoration of the graves by
the children as planned for the forenoon
was given up on account Of the rain, but
the balance of the program vas carried
out at the Opera House as planned at
200 p. N.
Not since the war of 1898 when the
boys were called to the colors in the
war with Spain has the situation been
50 momentous and fraught with the
seriousness of the coming conflict.
With this thought in mind the commit
tee announced that in connection with
Decoration Day there would be OBJ
served Loyalty Day and the response
from the people was magnificent The
business houses closed their doors and
the people refrained from their usual
vocations and repaired to the Opera
House with faces indicating the spirit
of devotion to the highest ideals of our
country and the willingness to meet the
future in a spirit of sacrifice. A com
mittee of ladies at the door presented
each person with a miniature flag as they
entered the Opera House. To music by
the orchestra, the veterans and speak.
ers marched to the stage and took
places assigned them. On the west
side Of the beautifully decorated stage
we're seated the 10 veterans, of whom
were of the CIVIL war and one from the
war with Spain, while on the other side
were seated the speakers, all represent
ative men of Custer who were honored
in their task.
Mr., NJ. j. Bailey was the efficient
chairman and in a few well chosen re-
marks introduced the program. The
fine fervent spirit of the chairman had
much to do in keeping up the high spirit |
Of the day.
The invocation was given by the Rev.
J. Herbert Spencer, pastor of the NJ. L.
church. The opening number was the
male quartet and was greatly enjoyed
by all, and the quartet was encored for
a repetition.
The first address was by Mr.. NJ. J.
Bailey, one of Clusters business men,
and was sincere appreciation of the
men of the sixties" and their sacrifices
and great tribute to the veterans who
still linger with us.
The second address was by Mr.. w. f.
Hanley, another of Custer's business
men, and was mastery setting forth
the ideals that have been the dominent
factor in our national experience. He
closed with a most fervent prophecy
that the entrance Of our land in the
World War would result in bringing a
world Democracy of Ideals fashioned
upon the precepts of our Lord and Mas
ter.
Mr.. Percy Helm, one of Custer young
attorneys, was next on the program
with a stirring address of eloquence
and patriotism, and closed by calling to
the stage Master Herbert Helm and
Miss Thelma Wilson, whe presented
each veteran with huge boquet of cut
flowers as loving gift from the Nation
Also the five widows of veterans were
remembered likewise by q boquet of
flowers.
The next speaker was Mr.. F. W.
Sellers, also one of Clusters young attor-
neys, who gave carefully prepared ad-
dress on the Ideals of our country"
and finished by stirring appeal to the
young men to enlist in the greatest war
the world has ever known, under the
flag that has never been defeated.
The next number was chorus of fif-
teen voices and it was worth going far
to hear such singing. The audience
thoroughly appreciated the song
Of course no Decoration would be
complete without "Our Immortal Lin
coins Gettysburg Address" Mr.. Ed
ward Rogers, one Of our young men,
gave it in spirit and with the ability
fully in keeping with this great Master
piece of the Nations Ideal.
Following this reading was the young
mems quartet from the high school.
This was so greatly appreciated that the
boys we're encored for repetition
which was given.
The next was flag drill by the girls
from the grades that was beautiful be-
yond description. This drill ended by
the presentation of Miss Columbia and
Uncle Sam, represented by Miss Eliza.
beth Nevin and Master Sherman Smith.
After this the Camp Fire Girls sang
the old war song, "Tenting on the old
Camp ground" so beautifully and tend.
erly that many were brought to tears at
the suggestion of sacrifice and suffering
portrayed by the heroes of the six
ties"
The next number was the Boy Scouts
who gsve drill in marching and set
ting up arms. 1t was a thrilling sight
to see the boys in their uniforms look
ing so trim and brave. This closed by
a beautiful and inspiring act of pre-.
senting the flags of the three great Ma.
tions who are allied. First came the
flag Of England carried through the