Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-31
HEROES OF THREE
WARS ARE HONORED
ON MEMORIAL DAY
Veterans of Spanish-American and
World Wars Join With q.
A. r. in Exercises.
PARADE THIS AFTERNOON

Survivors of three wars In which
Americans have fought for the preserVa.
ton of the Union, for the liberation OF
oppressed peoples, and to make the world
safe for democracy, are taking part TO-DAY
in the exercises ceremonies and paradcS
incident to memorial Day
The veterans of the strenuous days OF
6l-'65 are few in number today. lher
lines are rapidly thinning each year lhey
are bent by the weight of years, and their
heads are white with the trostS oil over
half century since they came out Oh
the Civil War. During the long years
since they came marching home 10 Jake
up the duties of civil life and held IN the
restoration of peace and the upouiidihs
of their country, they have done their
duty as citizens in the various walks OF
life. Each recurring year has sec vacan-
cies iii their ranks, but each year they
have marched to the music OF htc ana
drum and band to the cemeteries 10
decorate the graves of their comrades
who have preceded them to the Great
Beyond
The time has come when the boys IN
blue. the veteran members of the Grand
Army of the Republic cannot keep step
to the sound of the fife and the roll OF the
drum. and they have to take their places
in automobiles or carriages while the
veterans of later wars do the marching
But some Of the spirit OF 81 comes back
to them each Decoration Day, some OF
the sparkle to their eyes as they recall
and recount the trying times IN camp and
battle
Joining with them in observing the day
are the veterans of the Spanish-American
War and the World War. These do the
marching today, while the q. A. X.
veterans have the places Of honor IN the
paradcs and at all ceremonies. Thus TO
the thin line Of those who fought to pre-
serve the Union more than half a century
ago are added those who went overseas
10 JOIN in the greatest war the world has
ever known. to overthrow autocracy and
TO make the world decent place in whit b
to live.
PARADE THIS AFTERNOON.
The feature of todays celebration Of
Memorial Day will be the parade at 2.3O
this afternoon In which three struggles for
supremacy on land and sea, covering a
space OF time Of more than half century,
will be conmem0rated, and IN which
actual participants will take part as
paraders.
Nearly five thousand marchers are
expected to take their places in line and
the whole procession will be, in all proba-
bility. one of the most impressive of the
kind ever held in Wilmington. 1t will
start from Seventh and French streets and
will be dismissed at Delaware avenue and
Adams street.
A detail of men commanded by Lieuten-
ant Herbert Russell of the local army
recruiting station, will head the line.
The pennant presented to Wilmington
bv the officers and crew of the Z. ;. 5.
Narragansett, which underwent repairs
here during the war, 800 feet long, will
be prominent in the parade. Troop No 3,
ID. NJ. Anderson, scoutmaster, will carry
the emblem.
Grant Post No. IS, G. A R. which has
heretofore assumed the direction Of
decorating soldiers graves IN local ceme-
teries, as ii numbers only three sur
vivors. had to entrust this task 10 the
Younger hands of Appomatox Camp No ,,
Sons OF Veterans.
The Spanish War Veterans conducted
services at Lombardy and Silverbrook
cemeteries.
This morning members of Admiral
8 F. du Point Post No. 2, G. A. R., and
of General Thomas A. Smyth Post No. j,
and General Phil Sheridan Post No %
assembled shortly after s clock at
Fifth and Shipley streets in front Of their
hall and set of in separate detachments
for the du Point cemetery, where Admiral
du Pont is buried, for St Josephs ceme-
terry to decorate the grave of General
Snvth and to Mount Salem cemetery
where there weIe soldiers graves. Firing
squads from the p o. S. A and the Jr.
American Mechanics accompanied the
various divisions, each of which was
headed by q band.