Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY
IN SkOWHEGAN

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The Memorial day services at the
Opera House and the two Protestant
cemeteries Of the village were carried
ont with unusual patriotism Thurs
day because of the war conditions
now existing in the world The Re
lief Corps had made beautiful as
sortment of choice bouquets from
floral offerings and greenery donated
for the cause and these were taken to
the burial places of the deceased
members for Memorial purposes The
exercises proper began at l.3O in the
Opera House auditorium. AS is the
cuStom seats were reserved for the
veterans and the Corps workers in
the body of the house, the First Resi-
ment Band being the escorts of the
occasion. There were no elaborate
decorations on the platform. but hugh
, american Flags We're gracefully hung
, n bout the stage. Following a selec-
tion by the First Regiment Band,
, Key. George Merriam of the BETHANY
Baptist Church offered the Memorial
prayer and with Commander F. Mari
on Mills of the Russell Post presid-
ing senior vice commander. Prescott
n Cleveland voiced cordial greeting
, 10 the townspeople in behalf of the
roSt: Attorney George . Cover re-
sponded with patriotic words. his
message being brief but eloquent and
Junior vice commander, Samuel F.
Emerson game Lincoln's address with
Il depth of feeling such AS only the
aged veterans are able to give in con-
Sidering war time topics. Ex-Con-
gressman 5. w. Could was the prin-
cipal speaker of the afternoon and in
brief touched upon the following:
What country this is. Fifty-thrne
! long years. more than half cen
! turN. have come and gone since Lee
/ with the remnant OF his battle
I Scared and war worn army. sure A.
dtred 10 Grant and his conqueri1g
legions at Appomattox.
, Three generations have been born
/ since tn" beginning of the Civil wa,
and yet today grateful people gath
/ er 10 streW flowers upon the graves
! OF those who fought that one Nag
the great flag, and to US the nag Of
all flags might float from the Great
Lakes on the north to the banks #
the Rio Grande. One happy featu. e
OF this day is. that there are so many
or you who took part in that great
conflict and bore your share in ~
dangers and priNations. to whom Cod
has vouchsafed more in years on this
side of the great divide. and thar
YOU are here to take the leading part
in these exercises
ne L.,
flowers on the grave Of soldier. sc
do it as a tribute Of gratitude sn.l
a debt we ever ought to pay; but
when you who fought there with
them, s;oup to place the flowers on
the green turf that covers & com
raGe, you do ii as n token of deyo-
ton q I'D love, aye. more a soldier i
love. forged and welded with tive aud
heat OF battle, So strong that the
mist OF time cannot corrode or make
it break away.
Let me assure YOU that il is rho
earnest wish OF all that the time
when the rose will be laid on the
spot where your ashes lie may Eo
postponed for many years to come
I sometimes wonder on occasions
like this, # somewhere in the illim,-.
able realm of worlds beyond the
blue dome OF heaven. or on some far
off star that shines more gloriouslI
then all the rest, those of YOU who
have been finally mustered out II
this worlds toll and conflict can loof
down and see and know that they
are not forgotten.
Mr.. Gould then said In all the
great crises in the worlds history
that have fallen upon a people or
nation. God has raised up leade'
TO carry them through the storm
He then told the story OF Moses and
his leading the children OF Israel ont
OF bondage; of Napoleon as he
brought order out Of chaos in France
and saved the nation. of Washington
and the story OF the American Re.
olution; Of Lincoln and the great wort
he did IN the Civil War. of the pa 4
the Grand Army took in saving TIE
Cnich. and from all these exam
pies drew a great lesson in patriot.
ism. and drew the conclusion thu,
20 country with ideals Of patriot
ism as high and strong as ours car
never BE conquered" He quoted from
a letter written by Lincoln in whicr
the President said: Il see q cris,l