The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-05-29
|G.A.R. VET MAKING
| HIS FLOWER BOAT
| FOR FINAL TRIBUTE
Stephen Whitney to Launch
Unique Memorial for Nine
tssnth and Last Time.

In the little woodshsd In the rear
Of his home. 2S6, Thirteenth street
northeast, Stephen r. Whithsy.
eighty-nve-year-old veteran of Lincoln
Post No. 3, q. A. r.. IL busy this
week preparing the 1921 nower boat
which will rid6 out on the waters
of the lower bay a. tribute to the
nations sailor dead. For nineteen
years Whitney has followed this
unique custom Of honoring unknown
comrades of the pther branch OF ssrv-
Ice than that In which he served him.
self. But yesterday ~ no bent over
the boat he will this year send on
the memorial mission, making fast
the tiny masts which will Garry the
Union Jack and the American mas.
he said this would be the last.
Last year this man who has taken
part in every reunion and parade Of
the Grand Army. was injured In .
fall. and he fears others will have
to take up the work. Thirty-sight
years In the Pension Offcs have at
last put Whitney on the retired list.
But what may be next year has
not halted plans for Monday. khitney
Ii ready to have his bonr carried 10
the Norfolk boat dock, where willing
hands will see that n,sxsrs donated
by Warrington forists--snd by the
President. too--are properly arrayed
aboard the tiny sea-bound barge.
FIRST LAUNCH IN lso2.
whitney has received tnnumsrabIe
letters of thanks from folks at home"
who are grateful for this remsm-
berance of men who never came
home. 1t was whitney's thoughtful
ness for these kame folks At home
which brought the launching of the
hrst flower boat in 1902. President
Roosevelt oppressed hearty indorse-
ment of Whitney's plan. and when
Memorial Day came he made sure
flowers from the White House gar
den we're included in the sailor trib-
ute. Ever since. ycar after year.
to whitney for his boat.
The first boat was launched on tho
Potomac near Long Bridge. but in
recent years the boat has been car
ried to Norfolk and sent anoat near
the spot where the Cumberland went
down. her nag still flying above the
water after her gallant crew had
perished. =,
Other cities have adopted the Gus
tom. several now launching boats on
rivers and lake each Memorial Day.
The origin and purpose OF Memorial
Day 10 carefully stated IN a brief
publication issued recently by the
woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary TO
the @. A. r.
MEMORIAL DAYS ORIGIN.
Gen. N. p. Chapman. who As adjutant
general OF the Grand Army of the Re-
public. prepared the FIRST draft of Gen.
eral Order. No, IL. issued by Gen. John
A.. Logan, then commander in-chief,
records that May 80 was named because
of the desire to have ceremonies for
the dead In q spring month when
flowers would be available.
May 81 Of 1855 came on Sunday,
30 May so was named. This II the true
and only reason for having named
May 80 AZ the date to be observed"
says Chapman.
TT 10 the purpose Of the commander
in-chief to inaugurate this observance"
says General Order. No. IL. with the
hope that 1t will be kept up from year
to year while q survivor Of the war
remains to honor the memory of his
departed comradea"
For more than half q century the
sacred ceremonies in honor of the
nations heroic dead have been observed.
and by the Legislatures OF many States
May 30 has been declared q legal holi-
day. Thus have been realised the
hopes of the @. A. r. Expressed in
General Order No. IL.