The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1922-05-31
MEMORIAL PROGRAM
IS WELL ATTENDED
EXERCISES HELD IN THE HIGH
COUNT OF THREATENING
FATHER.

Despite the fact that chill wind
was blowing from the nor h and
heavy black clouds, thr, atening
rain, were floating overhead, a
large crowd witnessed Madison's
Memorial day parade and program
yesterday afternoon. Many country
people took advantage of the holi-
day and came to town to watch the
parade. Business firms closed their
doors for the day shortly after noon
in observance of the legal holiday.
In the morning members of the G..
A. r., together with the band and
firing squad, were taken to the GEM
eteries TO decorate the graves of vet
Grams. The regular Memorial day
tribute of placing a flag over each
grave, firing salute and sounding
taps. was carried out. Each ceme-
terry was a yeritable bower of flow
ers with snOwballs ,lilacs, beside bo-
blossoms of the season. beside bo-
quets of cut flowers adorning near
ly every grave.
AT noon the Civil war veterans
were guests of the W. R. C. at din
ner served in Odd Fellows hall.
AS scheduled, the parade formed
in line about 1880 p. m. at the high
school. Headed by the colors and
firing squad, the band, American
legion, G. A. r., Spanish-American
war veterans, Odd Fellows, w. r. c.,
firemen and school children followed
in order named.
Following the parade the Memoir
ial day program, which was to be
given on the courthouse lawn, was
held in the high school auditorium,
on account of the inclement wealth.
er. Every seat in the room was
filled and many stood up TO hear the
exercises. The program was opened
followed by a selection by double
male quartet and invocation by the
Rev. G. B. Blakeslee.
Rev. Blakeslee, who is an Ameri
canization officer of the American
legion, spoke a few words regard
IhS tllt OuLW dI vi iCNCI ChSc
which all good Americans should
show to the colors and the national
anthem. He said his attention was
called to the fact that, while yester-
days parade was passing, very few
saluted the eolors. He explained
that not every small flag should be
saluted, but only the colors under
guard, carried at the head of the
parade, should be recognized by ev-
cry man in the crowd by standing
erect with his hat removed and
placed on his left shoulder. Like
wise, the national anthem should be
reverenced by standing at attention
with hat removed when it is being
played.
Following Rev. Blakeslee's talk,
Prof. B. M. Lawrence introduced
Hon. Michael C. Luddy, of Sioux
Falls, as speaker of the day. Mr..
Luddy gave a brief, but excellent,
address fitting the occasion. He lik-
ened the veterans of three wars to
dawn, high noon and evening, say
ing that evening and high noon, as
represented by the Civil war and
| Spanish-American war veterans, re-
spectively, had learned the lesson
that ignorance was the cause of the
war in 81, and tyranny provoked
the war of '9S, and 1t is hoped
that the veterans of the world war
have learned the lesson of selfish
| ness.
"This is an age of selfishness, and
we are inclined to too much boast
ing instead of looking ahead. The
starvation, rampant in Europe, is
caused mainly by selfishness," said
Mr.. Luddy, "and we should not lei
such conditions arise in this coun-
try"
In speaking of Americas great
victory won in the world war, Mr.
! Luddy said that the mothers and
sisters and sweethearts of our sol.
diers should not be overlooked al
! they deserve great credit for theii
self sacrificing spirit.
| The dedicatory exercises for the
high school flagpole were held in the
auditorium on account of showers
After the program inside, the audi.
| ence witnessed the hoisting of the
new colors with salute and lower
! ing to the sound of retreat.