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It* OtMKrt’*n«e at the (eiiteury•With a chevron the tongue and a tear in ths With songs on thi Up, while the heart hides aHi£h.Wuli ichtdiieM we come .though in spirit we’rew« eping.To garland i he graves where our heroes are A Unit three o’clock the Guardi leftArmory Hall for theCemetery* Colonels Cooper and Bren holt, Major Daria and Adjutant Crane, of the 15th Battalion, were in attendance, the three first namedon horse back. The Guards, under command of Captain Brueg raann, marched in fine order,with their magnificent banner furled and appropriately draped, in ail ranee of the company. Bluff City Band ami the Drum Corps rendered music alternately during the march. A large number of citizens in carriages were in line and the procession was large and Imposing. Upon arriving at the gate of the new division of the cemetery,the military with arms reversed, accompanied by the musicians, marched in slow time to the eastern part of the old cemetery where Col. Coop* np Officer of the Day, called the assemblage to order and read the following introductory address: co*kades am) .* mxo w-CmrsK* i - Wehave assembled again in this silent and solemn city of the dead for the observance of this day.set apart by custom as Memorial Day. to pay another tribute of respect to the memory of ttaw, whose li\eri have been a heroic arid patriotic Karri* lice that our great and good nation might live. And while we are permitted to li\* to enjoy what they died to preserve and transmit to us, lour hearts cannot feel nor our action* ei-prrsa too deeply the great debt of gratitude and obligation we owe to their memory. \\ hfie they sleep Uie sleep that knows no wskmg. we can show by our words and actions, that their memory is kept alive in grateful remembrance by all citizens of this gn at and glorious nation.Io the patriots heart this is not a day for the j« i tormauce st aa kilt swrsnmny, but is a time for memory and for team-tears that shall water ihe graves of our heroic dead -tears through which we can see the beautiful bow of promisefor the future of our loved country. And as we arc about to deposit our floral tributes, and drop the sympathetic tear on the graves of our soldier dead, let m all, comrades and fellow citizens, a tie ml. to this solemn duty in that spirit of patriotic solemnity and pathos which the occasion requires.Prayer was then offered by Rev. L. A. Abbott* and after music, “Shall wegather at the Kivei? by the band, Rev, Fred. L. Thomson, orator of the day,delivered an eloquent addrtwe lie compared the anxious hours of hope deferred in the days of the siege of Vicksburg, the march to the sea, and other critical moments of the w ar, to the present time when we can meet in peace to honor our dead heroes. This is no partisan movement; this day, st t apart to the memory of those who .Vi tIn ir lm * lor the I’id n, is not a day for party feeling; for love of coun-try Is above all sentiments or motives that are controlled by party Urns. If, however, love for the stars and stripes, and devotion to principles symbolized by our country's colors be partisan, then let us all be partisans to tin* fullest ex tent, for this is the principle for w hic h our soldiers gave their lives. The speaker dosed with am stirimr ap|eal to the military to ever stand firm for right, truth and justilt;M% feeling that it is an honor to be a citizen'Soldier of the great Republic.At the dose of Mr. Thomson's address, which was listened to with the most rapt attention by the vast throng, the Guards, under command of Capt. Brueggeuiann, fired three volleys,each sounding almost *aa one report. The soldiers graves in the eastern part of the Cemetery were then decorated, while the band performed a dirge. The military then marched*10 the north-east part of the elt; metcry, where, after prayer by Dr. Armstrong ami three volleys by the Guards, the graves in that part of the grounds were decorated. The services closed with the benediction by Rev.David (\iughlan, of East St. Louis. Afterthe expresses ware over the militarymarched to the south part of the eenu tcry where two tan* Is of Ice water were in readiness to slake the thirst of those who at that time felt the need of the cooling leverage. The line of march was then taken up and the Guards returned to Armory Hall, where they disbanded.The observance taken as a whole, was a grand success. Thanks to the officers of the Fifteenth Battalion, to the Guards and their officers, w ho managed the affaira wso well, everything went off in perfect order. The people were present in large numbers, every one seemed deeply interested, a solemn quiet prevailed and the vast Quantity of beautiful, fragrant dowers, proved that the great object of the day was not forgotten. A great manyof the business houses of the city were closed, and the observance seemed more general than ever before.
Newspaper Details
Alton Daily Telegraph
Alton, Illinois, US
Sat, May 31, 1879
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Hayner P.
IL, USA 20 May 2023
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