Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1917 — MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE [ARTICLE]

MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE

Graves of Departed, Veterans to Be Decorated With Flowers. <• Twenty-two veterans of the civil war, the remaining local few of the mighty host that more than fifty years ago faced death and privations that the Union might be saved, were in the line of march Sunday for the memorial services at Trinity M. E. church. Accompanying the old soldiers were eighteen of the venerable ladies who have suffered privations during one war when their companions were at the front and now face the probability of seeing their sons and grandsons march away to face the onrushing foreign foe.

In honor of these esteemed citizens Trinity church was appropriately decorated with festoons of flowers and flags for the occasion, and it was indeed a most impressive scene as the old soldiers and their companions marched in and took the seats of honor provided for them. The memorial sermon was delivered by the Rev. E. W. Strecker, and he paid a >most beautiful conn pliment and mark of respect to the veterans and their wives in touching and eloquent words, according to them the honor that is justly theirs. The Decoration day program for today will perhaps receive a little more interest than in years past because of the country once again being engaged in a war for the elevation of humanity. All bands, military organizations, fraternal orders, the firp company, civic organizations and Sunday schools are respectfully invited to participate in the march to the J cemetery, as are also all Union and ( Confederate veterans, whether or not they are members of the local or any other post. The march to the cemetery will ( take place promptly at 2 o’clock] this afternoon. At 1:30 the court] house bell will ring, at which time all those intending to participate in the march should gather at their regular meeting places and be assembled to join the march. The order of the program as arranged by the G. A. R. is as follows: Call to order by commander. Vocal music by choir. Address —Post commander. * Invocation---Rev. J. B. Fleming. Reading memorial orders by post adjutant. Music —Male quartet. .- . Lincoln’s Gettysburg address — Charles Halleck. Music by band. Oration by Rev. W. G. Winn. Vocal music by four little girls. Vocal music led by choir—Everybody sing. Benediction by Rev. F. H. Beard. W, I. Hoover, marshal of the day.