Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-01
Memorial Day
Observed with
Fitting Exercises

memorial lay ODSerVanceS were
held Wednesday afternoon at 1870
o'clock at the Opera House under
the auspices of the Russell Post No.
SO G. A. r., assisted by Simon
Peters Post No. II American Le-
gion.
The line of march formed at the
Grand Army hall and marched to
the Opera house. In line were be-
sides the Russell Post and the Sim
on Peters Post the ladies Of the
Russell Relief Corps and the Boy
Scouts and their leader Clement
Downs. Major John w. Fogler of
the Russell Post presided and the
following order Of exercises was car
ried out.
Music, Skowhegan High School or
chestra; prayer. Chaplain George
Loring Thurlow, Captain. o. r. O.;
address Of welcome, Major John w.
Fogler: response. Carleton P. Mer-
rill: remarks, Adjutant S. F. Emer-
son; Lincoln's Address, Col. Roy l..
Marston; music, male quartet;
Memorial address, Senator Bert N.
Fernald; closing ode, America
audience; benediction, Rev. H. l..
Nichols: procession to Catholic Gem
etery; memorial exercises, Rev. ].
l.. A. Renaud; procession to North
cemetery, prayer and remarks, Rev
cemetery, ritual of the G. A. r. and
American Legion. Star Spangled
Banner" Taps.
In his address of welcome Mr..
Fogler spoke of the setting aside
Memorial Day for the reverent OBJ
servance and in loving memory of
the men who gave their lives in the
Civil War and that during all the
years since the day has been OBJ
served by the Grand Army Men who
have kept the spirit and purpose OF
the original Memorial Day and have
ceased from the performance Of sec
ular duties and with solemn and i'm
pressive ceremonies have each year
observed the day and that now it is
a day kept holy and for the obser
vance for all men who have given
their lives for their country whether
they fought and died in the Civil
war or in other wars and whether
they are lying among the lilies OF
| France or the poppies Of Flanders on
their native soil. The response
| which was given by Hon. Carlton P
| Merrill was a sincere VOW that until
| the end of time even after the mer
| of the Civil War and even the World
war are no more, that the day will
be kept reverently and that the
country will love and honor Its
brave dead who have fought for its
freedom and given their lives fol
| their country.
The quartet was composed of Don.
aid =. Burrill LIST tenor. second tenor
George Oulton. baritone, Lyle Moore
and base Clyde Decker. They were
/ accompanied by Mrs. Ethel Whittier
Ames. Their first selection was
welcome Grand Army Men" and
the second "When the Flag Goes By
The music was excellent and much
enjoyed by all.
The address of the day was giver
| by Senator Bert n. Fernald of Po-
land who paid glowing tributes tc
the sacrifices made by the men ir
blue who were fighting not for gair
but for right and even against theii
own brothers, and to the men of the
| Spanish War, and to the men of the
World War and also to the wives
mothers. sweet hearts and sisters
who were left at home. Mr.. Fer
nald spoke of the soldiers pensions
and stated that no pension could
ever repay the men for their sacri-
| fees but that the soldiers should all
| be penSioned and that he knew that
| every man who went over seas in the
| World War would be pensioned some
| time. He said that there should be
! wherein should be written in letters
of gold the names of every soldier
| Senator Fernal also referred to the
period of the Revolutionary War and
also spoke briefly Of the immigrant
| who comes to our land to better his
condition and of our national hos
pitality and that 1t was the right of
| every citizen to take part in the af-
fairs of the country, and here there
is legal right for each and all citi-
referred to the flag. which is the
emblem Of all for which the G. A.
r., men and those who have served
in the more recent wars have fought
for and even laid down their lives
for and under its folds there is pro-
lection for the humblest and under
whose fold even the strongest obey
and that it also represents not only
the suffering of the soldiers but also
of the glories yet to be and that we
shall always cherish a love and rev.
erence no words can express for the
men who have fought and died for
it.
The first cemetery visited was the
Catholic cemetery and there flags
were arranged in the form of the
crucifiX and is little girls at the
arrival Of the Grand Army advanced
and formed a living cross. The lit