The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-05-24


read:
Headquarters Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, Adjutant Generals Office, 416 14th
Street, Washington, ID. c., May ., 1903.
GENERAL ORDERS, NO. II.
l. The 30th of May, 1868, is designated
for the purpose of strewing flowers or
otherwise decorating the graves OF COM
| rades who died in defense of their coun-
try during the late rebellion, and whose
bodies now lie in almost every city, VII
lage and hamlet churchyard in the iand.
In this observance no form of ceremony
is prescribed, but posts and comrades VIII,
in their own way arrange such httlng
services and testimonials of respect as
circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our
regulations tell us, for the purpose,
among other things, "of preserving and
strengthening those kind and fraternal
feelings which have bound together the
soldiers, sailors and marines who united
to suppress the late rebellion. what can
aid more to assure this result than by
cherishing tenderly the memory OF our
| heroic dead, who made their breasts q
barricade against our country and its
| foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille
of freedom to race in chains, and their
deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny In
arms. We should guard their graves with
| sacred vigilance.
| All that the consecrated wealth and
! taste of the nation can add to their adorn-
| ment and security is but fitting tribute
| to the memory of her slain defenders.
| Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such
hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths In
| vite the coming and going of reVerent
visitors and fond mourners. Let no van
dalism or avarice or neglect, no ravages
| of time, testify to the present or coming
generations that we have forgotten as a
! people the cost of free and UNDIVIDED
| republic.
If other eyes grow dull, and other hands
| slack, and other hearts cold in the sol
| emn trust ours shall keep it well as long
as the light and warmth of life remain
| to u.s.
(! Let us. then, at the time appointed,
gather around their sacred remains ana
| garland the passionless mounds above
| them with the choicest flowers of spring
| time; let us raise above them the dear
| old flag they saved from dishonor; let us
in this solemn presence renew our pledge
| to aid and assist those whom they have
left among u.s. a sacred charge upon q
4 nations gratitude-the soldiers widow
| and orphan.
2. 1t is the purpose Of the commander
| in chief to inaugurate this observance
with the hope that it will be kept up
! from year to year, while a survivor of the
war remains to honor the memory of his
i departed comrades. He earnestly desires
| the public press to call attention to this
order and lend it's friendly aid in bringing
it to the notice of comrades in all parts
of the country in time for simultaneous
compliance Herewith.
/ Denartrnent commanders will use ev-
ery effort to make this order effective.
BY order Of
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander in Chief.
N. p. CHAPMAN,
| fofficiaD Adjutant General.
| VIM. T. COLLINS, A. A. G.
saThe loyal people of the country
took most kindly to the idea," said
Mrs. Logan, land my husbands an
ticipations were fully realized by the
observance of the day in every state
in the Union, the exercises being char
! acterized by observations very much
the same as those which take place
today.
"After many inquiries and some dis
cussion 1t was decided that May 30
was probably the most appropriate
. day for the universal observance OF
the ceremony in every state In the
Union, and General Logan finally
succeeded in making the day a ma
tional holiday.
"On Memorial day there Is no dis
tinction made between officers and
men. Death, the great leveler, makes
them all heroes alike, and plaudits
and blossoms are distributed with
equal generosity between the great
generals and the privates.
"There are few now living who Won
great honors during the Civil war
All the great commanders of armies
have passed away, and there are but
few left who commanded corps, di
visions, brigades or regiments. The
patriotic organizations who have
so faithfully preserved the memory
of their fallen comrades, are also
much depleted in membership. 1t l.
therefore, to the men of the younger
generation we must look to keel
green the memory of those who dice
y to make our nation"