The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1920-06-04
MEMORIAL EXERCISES
BURNS POST MAKES ITS LAST MARCH
MISS SHELLMAA PRESENTS GRAND
ARMY PIN-SERVICES IN ARM0RY-
GRAVES DECORATED.

/
memories, was observed in Westmin-
ster on Sunday afternoon; May 30th
both at the cemetery and in the Arm
Dry with appropriate services.
| The veterans of 1862, with the Amer
lean Legion, Veterans of Foreign
/ Wars, Boy Scouts Band and fife and
drum corps, met at the Armory and
marched from there to the cemetery
| the younger men forming q guard OF
! honor to the few remaining comrades
/ of Burns Post, and led by the fife
and drums corps, under the leader
| ship of u. S. G. Brown, and the Boy
ScoHts Band heading the line, followed
| by hundred and fifty children car
rying flowers and flags, and marshall
ed by Miss Mary B. Shellman, assisted
/ by Miss Blanche Baer, Mrs Louis e.
Manning and Mrs. Russell Haines and
our two efficient policemen Messrs.
] William Helm and Bale, Masters
/ Henry KINNEY, Francis Thomas, and
! Charles Croft, in the uniforms Of the
Army and Navy were escorts to the
children's brigade. .
At the cemetery the services con-
sisted or prayer by Rev. w. l.. Sea
brook; hymn, Nearer My God to
| Thee" and the beautiful ritual OF the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the de
posting of a wreath of white flowers
to the memory of the dead.
During the strewing of flowers on
the soldiers graves the band played
dirges at the grave CT their late COM
rade, Frank Miller, late of the Z. S. N,
and a former member of the Boy
Scouts.
Returning to the Armory, the Vet
Grams, seven in number, were given
seats on the stage, directly back of
a flower crowned chair, draped il.
black, over which was an American
flag, and across the front the words
Our Old Comrades" The program
opened with singing, MY Country IT'S
of Thee" by the audience, led by a
select choir, under the leadership OF
Mrs. H. NJ. KINNEY; prayer, Rev. DR.,
Dame, rector of Ascension Episcopal
Church; reading, original poem, ''We
are Growing Old, My Comrades" by
Miss Mary BoStWick Snellman; pre-
sentation of Grand Army pin and but
ton to Miss Shellman by Commander,
John H Mitten,- in behalf Of the sur
ivivors Of Burns Post, and presentation
of the Post Flag to the American
Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars
and disbanding of the Post. Response
by Adjt. Eugene Walsh, in behalf of
both organizations; browning OF va
cant chair with flowers by Boy Scout,
Billy Ditman and handing over in be-
half of Burns Post the sacred trust
of perpetuating memorial day to the
two organizations and the Boy Scouts
by Miss 5hellman; hymn, Peace. Per-
feet Peace" by The choir; rolling
drum, U. S. c. Brown, and taps by
BugIer Paul Wimert.
The second part of the program
consisted Of some appropriate remarks
and a farewell to Burns Post by the
presiding officer, Mr.. II. p. Gorsuc1;
hymn, The Battle Hymn of the Re
public" by the audience; "Lincoln'5
address at Gettysburg" Mr.SO. +. Lam
grail, of Baltimore, student at
Western Maryland College; address,
Guy w. Steele, Esq; Kipling's, Re
OCCASIONAL by the choir, Mr. Albert
Mitten, soloist; benediction by the
Rev. Dr.. Dame.
/ The day was beautiful, the Armory
was filled with an attentive, sympa-
lthetic and interested crowd; people
in automobiles lined each side OF the
street and al arge number attended
the services at the cemetery.
1t was a pathetic sight to see tie OLD
veterans bravely marching escorted
by those who have but recently re-
Turned from the battle fields and
camps of the great world war, and led
by the gallant young boy scouts, the
past, the present and the future
# was the last march for most or
the old men. They are growing feeble,
but Comrade Fossett bravely carried
his beloved old flag in line, as he
knew. for the last time. and the other
comrades of Burns Post also marched
to and from the cemetery, with much
of the old time spirit of endurance. AS
was said at the Armory, The last
chapter is written, the book is closed,
and Burns Post is but memory
now But we feel sure they will new
er be forgotten.
The sons of Blue and Gray, will
stand together as they stood on the
fields of battle and keep tneir memory
ever green.
$40 The Old Post"
We are growing old, my Comrades
together you and |.
For us the day is dying, the evening
shades draw night,
And soon taps will be sounding, as the
Sun sinks in the West
And you and l will answer, and lay
us down to rest.
Many years have passed and vanished,
since the days of '61
When the bugle call responded to the
sound of Sumpter's gun
And you rallied to the challenge, from
hillside and from glen,
Just as you boys responded, when the
Country called for men;
You too were only boys, when that
stirring call was made ~
And. we know how much you suffered
and how great the price you paid
Those days are but memory now,
the march, the prison cell,
The picket post, the battle field, where
many Comrades fell,
And you are growing older, your