The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-20
Memorial Day Call This Year

Memorial day this year is fraught with deep
er interest and pathos than any preceding one
since the nation first dedicated May 80 to the
memory of the departed soldiers of the Republic.
In the last year more than $4,000 graves of
brave American boys who died for the cause of
human liberty on European soil have been added
to the long list of the burial places of the veterans
of the Civil war.
This suggests a common interest of the vet
Grams of the Civil war, the Spanish-American
war and the soldiers of the American Legion in
the ceremonies of Memorial day. The fighters of
these three wars fought for democratic ideal
and for the perpetuation of liberty on earth.
Surely, the day has an exalted meaning and ten
der memories for all of them.
1t is pleasing to know that the veterans of
these three wars share common feeling of rev.
erence for their departed companions and will
pay their tribute of love and homage on that day.
The Spanish-American war veterans and the sol
diers of the World war in Wayne county will par
ticipate in the ceremonies honoring the departed
heroes of the Civil war This is fit and proper,
a commendable spirit for the young veterans to
show toward the old fighters
William F. Medsker, Indiana state commander
of the G. A. R., in his first general order, sug-
gests that the young veterans of the two wars
join in the memorial services of the Civil war
heroes. His request is touching appeal that
will find a warm response everywhere in Hoosier-
dom.
1T should be the duty and privilege of the
Comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic and
the members of it's allied organizations says the
order ''to see that the graves of soldiers of all
wars, including the Revolutionary war, the war
of 1872, the Indian wars, the Mexican war, the
War of the Rebellion the Spanish-American war
and the World war just closed should be decorat-
ed in this, our Memorial day.
1--WE would ask that the surviving soldiers of
all wars join with us in the memorial service and
assist us in decorating the graves of all soldiers
Apropos of Memorial Day in 1919 and the
changed conditions that attend it, is a message
which Dr. Lewis S. Pitcher, department COM
nnander of the G. A. r. of the state of New York,
has addressed to his comrades in which he points
out that the younger veterans will in the span of
few years carry on the task of honoring the
memory Of the nations departed soldiers. His
message breathes a spirit of solemnity and charm
that will appeal to every old soldier and young
veteran. He says:
For so years the citizens of the United
States the whole country over, have been OBJ.
serving May 80 as day set apart, to be sacred
to the memory of the men who died in the de-
Tense of their country during the war for the
preservation of the union in '61-65. As years
have gone on there have been added to those thus
commemorated the rapidly increasing number Of
their comrades who in later years have also gone
to join the ranks of the Grand Army above.
These days have been days that have con
tributed very markedly to the increase and spread
of the spirit of patriotism in the hearts of all a.
they have witnessed the annual parade of the
rapidly thinning ranks of the men of the Sixties
which has emphasized the value of that Union
typified by the Stars and Stripes, for the preser
walton of which they fought.
lone of the problems which has been in tn
l ~