Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1920-06-03
MEMORIAL AND
DECORATION DAY

Last Sunday and Monday were CIV
en- over to remembrance of those
who have served their country in the
times of special need. The exercises
were highly pleasing and profitable
from first to last. There was one
omission which is regretted by all
who had anything to do with the ar
rangements, and which should be
spoken of at the beginning of this
mention.
The Spanish War Soldiers were not
given place nor mention in what was
done. 1t came about in this way. The
Boys of the sixties" gave notice sew
eraI years ago that younger people
must take up the matter of arrange
ments.- 1t was so natural and fitting
for the Legion" to do that duty that
they were asked and gladly consented
to fulfill it, The Religious part for
Sunday was given over to the Minis
terial Association, and the Legion
boys being new in preparing pro,
grams for the Decoration, took the
text of the G. A. r., as proposed by
General John A. Logan, long before
the Spanish American war, and stuck
closely to it in order to have exactly
what was intended at the beginning.
The blame for omission really falls
on some of us middle aged folks who
have had experience in program max
ing and know the time when Spanish
War Veterans first became fact in
Our National affairs.
With this explanation it is a glad
thing to go and say that it was as
nearly what we all wished as could
we'll be. Rev H. F. Knight, the
Knightly young veteran of New Ply
mouth, preached the sermon on Sum-
.day. Payette County people all know
him and whether they were present |
to hear or not, they know that it |
spoke the things in which our land |
has been honored in her sons, and |
the honor that reflects back on them
as well as the eternal honor that is !
due to each as he is loyal to the King |
of Kings.
The singing was by Professor Neil |
son and three of the Legion Boys, |
Earl Keller, Edgar Vestal and Ray
Hicks 1t was superb. All the church
~, eorrioac ayoant noca |
where previous arrangements made |
it too difficult and the Emma Thea
ter, freely granted for the occasion
by Mr.. and Mrs. Hughes, was filled |
for the hour by an attentive, devout |
company of people.
Then early Monday morning, the
streets of the city began to fill with
autos and men in the Uniform. The
Procession to the "City of the Dead"
started to the graves already marked !
for the mounds of flowers, at 10 a. m
headed by the members of the G. A.
R., w. R. c., and sons of Veterans,
next the Ladies Auxiliary of the
American Legion, followed by the
American Legion, High School Ca
diets and children, and last but not
least, the members of the l. o. o. F.
numbering fifty strong.
The Veterans graves were honored
first and then the spirit of love"
spread everywhere and at the end
there was scarcely a mound in the
whole enclosure, but was built a
little higher with the emblems of
resurrection"
They who have their last resting
place in the "Briny deep" were re-
membered in the beautiful ritual of
the Relief Corps, on the bridge that
spans the river.
Preparations had been made for
the pSh services of the after
Aoon. 1T was intended to have them
in the school grounds, but the threat
of the weather made it advisable to
go into the NJ E. church which was
packed to the steps, with folks to
hear the address of Hon. T. A. Wal
ters. 1t fully satisfied the hearers,
who were expecting good things. The
same quartet were in place to outdo
if possible their singing on Sunday.
Altogether it was a Memorial of
which it is a pleasure to speak, and !
to hold in permanent remembrance.