Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 131, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1912 — THRONG PAID TRIBUTE TO CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS. [ARTICLE]

THRONG PAID TRIBUTE TO CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS.

Glorious Day Brought Out Large Crowd—Bev. Winn Delivered Fine Address —Soldiers Banquetted. With praise for the surviving veterans of the Civil War and honor and eulogy for those who have gone to their reward, with the graves of all veterans marked by the flag for whitfh they fought and strewn with flowers, the 1912 Memorial Day was one of the most noteworthy in the city’s history. Inspired by the glorious day the city was thronged with people from town and country, who fiad gathered to pay their tribute of love and praise to the gallant boys of the early sixties. „ . - The parade was not as large as some previous years, and probably there have been larger crowds gathered for the occasion, but there never existed a more complete reverence for the veterans than existed that day and apparently the minds of all were filled with the realization that the nation owes to these" brave men a debt of gratitude that is but feebly rewarded by aur annual token of flowers and praise. 7 The business houses closed between the hours of 2 and 5 o’clock and merchants and clerks and farmers and their families participated in the service. At the cemetery the program as published was carried out. D. H. Yeoman, as commander of the post, acted as chairman at the cemetery and spoke briefly of the nation’s tribute to the boys in blue. Rev. J. C. Parrett offered an invocation. The boys’ band played martial music and a quartette composed of C. E. Prior, J. P; Hammond, Dr. W. L. Myer and Henry Jacobs sang patriotic songs. Cope Hanley read Lincoln’s Gettysburg speech. The address of the afternoon was made by Rev. W. G. Winn, of the. Christian church. Mr. Winn is a native of Richmond, Virginia, and it is the first time a southerner has ever been asked to address the Union veterans on Decoration Day in Rensselaer. His address was a very able one and commanded the closest attention of a large crowd gathered at the cemetery. He declared the obliteration of all our differences, said that Mason and Dixon’s line is no longer existing and that we were in truth a united people, all proud of our flag, all ready to stand in defense of the common welfare of our people and all being interested in bringing our nation up to the highest standard of accomplishment. Rev. Winn praised the soldiers pf the union army and their wives, mothers, daughters and sisters, wfho made sacrifice for the cause which the men so gallantly fought. The large crowd was inspired by his address and cheertd it lustily when he had finished. After the return, march the old soldiers went to the G. A. R. room in the courthouse where the ladies of the G. A. R following their custom of several years, spread a banquet dinner for them. There were almost two hundred partook of the meal. Taken all in all Memorial Day this year was one of the most impressive of all that have been observed here.