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[DECORATION DAT,I r posing CirmntMDecoration Du? wu more generally observed yesterday than ever before In this city showing the interest felt m the •emcee. A little before 2 o’clock the Al'jon Poet, G, A. R. met at tbelr hell on Third street end mtrched to City • 1*11. heeded by e martial bend consisting Mr. John Dillon, of Fosterburg, flfer; L. A. Keel, Frank Lowe, Wm. Adams, drutnmere. The stage wee nicely decorated. A Urge flag suspended et the rear; et the wings were wreathe af evergreens; three mnaketa •lacked at each *tde,crowned with floral wreaths, Oa arriving at the hal:, after being called te order by Commander of the Poat C. A. Herb and mualcbj Prof. Gotaran’s band, devotional eerrioee were read by Chaplain Flynn and the Order of the Day by Adjutant 8, 8. Ho* ban Commander Herb made a bnef address reciting tbe object* of the assemblage and welcoming his comrades. The Juno (Jnartette, Misses Blanche Murphy, Nena McAdams, Bessie Hub* bel), Ida Yager, sang “They hare broken ap their camps” and were greeted with applause.The line of march was then formed, headed by tbe two bands. The old soldiers were near the front carrying muskets with the old flag oyer them, Officer of the Day, H. M. Sumps in command. On Fifth street the members of Turner scheol in tbeir nest uniforms, under charge of Mr. Albert Ernst, and tbe Turners’ Society were formed and fell into the procession, adding greatly to the effect.After entering tbe cemetery, with muffled drums beating slow time, a dirge was performed by tbe band. Prayer was offered by Her. H. 8. Mills, of the Congregational chureh. The G.A. R. decoration ritual was read by Commander Herb. Capt. D. R. Sparks’ then introduced Ref. J. W. Phillips, of Utchfleld, orator of the day, who delivered a masterly address. H« entered esrnestly into tbs spirit olt; tbe oocasion, so much so that many of his eloquent periods roused the martial ardor of the yaat assemblage, especially the old soldiers, like the blast of a trumpet Mr. Phillips, an old soldier himself, was re*markably felicitous throughout his address, and won unstinted commendation from tbe vast audience At the close of tbs address Rev. J. Fisher, of the Unitarian church, read a floe \ oem by Wm. Winter, entitled, “A Pledge te the Dead.”“America** was then sung by some members of the Phi I harmonic Society and ethers. After tiring a salute of honor the G. A. R. and others proceeded to decorate tbe graves with the rare and beautiful flowers furnished in lavish abundance. This ceremony was performed at the eastern extremity of the cemetery and also in the northwestern patt, where there are a number of sol-diers’ graves.The graves had been marked with •mail flsgs by theG. A. R. which enabled them to be , easily designated by those strewing tbe flowers. Nothing could be more lieaaUfui and approbate than this thoughtful tribute of placing over eaeh grave the flag the silent sleeper died to save.1 he attendance at tbe cemetery was immense. The people of Alton, Upper Alton and vicinity turned out en wt**' to pay their tribute of affectionate remembrance to the honored dead. The Tslkokai’ii cannot refrain from commending the Grand Army for their admirable arrangements. Tbeir pro* gramme was in excellent taste sod under the direction of Post Commander Herb everything passed off in perfect order. The old veterans present,many of whom woo high distinction during thewar, were the object* of special interest and attention. Many of them,also, were survivor* of Andersooville, Libby, Belle Isle and balisbury prisons, who oould tell tales of horror and suffering such as, ws imst, may never by known again.'he boys”are growing old now,wrinkles and siiver hair and halting step tell the story of time's advances. The youngest of them are now grave men, of middle age, but none of them are too old to cherish the flag they fought for, or too feeble “to keep step to tbe music of the Union,” nor will their devotion waver while life lasts and the final summons oomes to join the comrades guns before.• •
Newspaper Details
Alton Daily Telegraph
Alton, Illinois, US
Tue, Jun 01, 1886
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Hayner P.
IL, USA 20 May 2023
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