Evening star., 1941-05-25

In few days Memorial Day will have
come around again. and the Amphl-
theater at Arlington will be filled with
patriotic Americans, there upon this oc-
casion TO rededicate themselves to the
principles of this glorious Republic for
which many of those inferred in this
great national metropolis gave the full
measure of their devotion, And, as is
customary upon this sacred day, some
noted speaker will offer words OF praise
for those who did not die in vain, and
give advice 10 the living that they, too,
may prove themselves worthy of the her
itage of such men who here rest beneath
the sod, and as a closing tribute to the
dead taps will be sounded, and another
Memorial Day at Arlington will be
brought 10 a close.
1t is probable that there will be no
Grand Army men present upon this oc-
caSi0n, at least not members OF the De-
partment of the Potomac of which there
are but two survivors. the commander
John NJ Kline. ST.. and w. F. Dorsey. OF
course, survivors of subsequent wars will
be there in numbers to take over the
duties rendered so many years by the
Boys in Blue, of whom it may we'll be
said We'll done. thou good and faithful
servant"
Unfortunately. however. the rank and
file of the people of today do not take
so seriously this day OF reverence as they
shosld, or with as much respect as Gen.
John A. Logan indicated they should
when he issued his order bringing into
being the 3Oth of May as a day for
decorating the graves of departed COM
rades of the Civil War.
Logan's Order.
Gen Logan. who was then commander
In chief of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, was, at the time, residing at the
Willard Hotel when he issued his famous
instructions, known as General Orders
No. II, which follows:
Headquarters, Grand Army of the Re-
public
washington, D. C, May 5, 1868,
"446 Fourteenth Street,
General Orders No. IL:
81. The 30th day Of May, 1868 Is des-
Ignated for the purpose of streWing with
flowers or otherwise decorating the
graves of comrades who died in defense
of their country during the late rebellion.
and whose bodies now lie in almost every
city village and hamlet churChyard in
the land. In this observance no form or
ceremony is prescribed, but posts and
comrades will. in their own way, arrange
such fitting services and testimonials of
respect as circumstances may permit.
I'VE are organized, comrades, as our
regulations tell us, for the purpose,
among other things, of preserving and
strengthening those kind and fraternal
feelings which have bound together the
soldiers, sailors and marines who united
to suppress the late rebellion What
can aid more to assure this result than
by cherishing tenderly the memory of
our heroic dead who made their breasts
8 barricade between our country and its
foes? Their soldier lives were the rev.
ellie of freedom to a race in chains
and their deaths a tattoo Of rebelllous
tyranny in arms.
I'VE should guard their graves with
saored vigilance. All that the consecrated
wealth and taste of the Nation can add
10 their adornment and security is but
q fitting tribute to the memory of her
slain defenders Let no wanton foot
tread rudely on such halloWed grounds.
Let pleasant paths invite the coming and
going of reverent visitors and fond
mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice
or neglect, no ravages of time, testify
to the present or to the coming genera
ton that we have forgotten as people
the cost of a free and undivided repub-
lie.
IF other eyes grow dull and other
hands slack, and other hearts cold in the
solemn trust, ours shall keep it we'll as
long as the light and warmth of life
remain in us.
Let us, then. at the time appointed,
gather around their sacred remains and
garland the passionless mounds above
them with choicest flowers of spring
time; let us raise above them the dear
old flag they saved from dishonor let
us in this solemn presence renew our
pledges to aid and assist those whom
they have left among US a sacred charge
upon the Nations gratitude-the SOL
dier's and sailors widow and orphan.
III. 1t is the purpose of the COM
rnander-in- to inaugurate this OBJ
servance with the hope that it will be
kept up from year to year, while
survivor of the war remains to honor
the memory of his departed comrades.
He earnestly desires the public press to
call attention to this order and lend its
friendly aid in bringing it to the notice
OF comrades in all parts of the country
in time for simultaneous compliance
herewith
III. Department commanders will use
every effort to make this order effective.
by command Of
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander in Chief.
IN. P. Chipman,
"Adjutant General"
OF course, the writer does not intend
to convey the impression that Gen
Logan originated the custom of placing
flowers on the graves of the worlds