The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-05-28
Memorial Day

We have been requested to print
the following, written for the Mich
igan Farmer in 1908 Dy Mary <. Fl.
Coville.
The Memorial Day obdercance-
It's origin and growth.
The thirtieth day of May has be-
come the "Day Memorial" all over the
land, and yet each year inquiries are
made as to the beginning of the OBJ
servance cf Decoration Day as it at
first was called--There is little story
which is vouched for, that the first
step toward this observance was TAX
en- by two women just year after the
fall of Fort Sumter.
They decorated some graves at Ar
lington Heights and on May of the fol-
lowing year performed the same SER
vice at Fredericksburg. / was not
until 1868, however. that an order
was issued out by Gen. John A. Lo-
gan, then in command, to have the
decoration of soldiers graves gener-
ally observed' Today, north, south,
east and west, where ever a soldier
lies buried, flowers and garlands are
placed in loving and reverent memory.
All strife and bitter feeling are put
away, forgotten and on this memoir
ial day we strew flowers and water
them with tears alike for blue and
gray.
"Under the blossoms the Blue,
Under the garlands the Gray"
The Grand Army Of the Republic
and its auxiliary, the Woman's Re-
lief Corps, through their patriotic
teachings are making it, nations
Sabbath and each year we find it
guarded more closely by the ordi-
nances of state and city.
Where ever ~there are bodies of
water, large or small, the beautiful
service, tribute to the sailors dead are
held. So impressive is this service
of scattering flowers upon the water
that many high in naval affairs have
inquired as to it's origin. 1t was
through the instrumentality of a Mrs
A. S. Forbes, cf California, who, in
loving remembrance of all who gave
their lives as sacrifices in the battle
for freedom did not forget those who
sentineled the seas amidst the oceans
foam, that this service was first for
mulated and exemplified in her owr
state, and now the custom is one OF
national observance by the Womens
Relief Corps.
President Mckinley saidS in one
of his last addresses, when speaking
of the defenders Of the country: ave
have the remnant of the old, mag
nificient matchless army and then
as allies in any future war we have
the brave men who in the Civil wal
fought against US, but we are now
tgether in hope, in fraternity and II
purpose, therefore the country is il
no. danger"
Gen. James Lcngstreet voiced tn,
same opinion when he said: 9Th,
broad, deep, Americanism which pull
ses through the great heart of tn,
Republic will grow broader and deep
er as the years go by | am Thankful
that / have lived to see the noble re
results of the war springing into vas
and virile life; that only its splendit
accomplishments for the cause of hu
man freedom and a united nation
strong and rich in fullment, will b,
remembered" N
Wher the May has called her
flowers
For the summer, waiting long,
, And the breath of early roses
Woes the hedges into song,
Comes the throb of martial music
And the banners in the street,
And the marching Of the millions
Bearing garlands, fair and sweet
'Tis the Sabbath of the Nation,
Tis the floral feast of May
In remembrance of our heros
We keep Memorial Day.