LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, May 27, 1892
MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAMS.
Promptly at 9 o’clock a.m. under the direction of Chief Marshal, the column
will form on Sixth street with right resting on Main street, in the following order:
Martial Band.
Young American Cadets.
Flower Committees and Children in Wagons.
Mower Post, G.A.R.
I.O.O.F.
Knights of Pythias.
LeMars Fire Department.
Other Civic Societies.
Public Schools.
Citizens on Foot.
W.R.C. and G.A.R. in Carriages.
Orator of the Day, and Choir in Carriages.
Mayor and City Officials in Carriages.
Citizens in Carriages.
The line of march will be south on Main to Third street; east on Third to
the City Cemetery, where the ritual exercises of the G.A.R. and the W.R.C.
will be held. After completion of decorating ceremonies, the column will
reform in the same order and march west to Fulton street, north on Fulton to
Sixth street, east on Sixth to the Catholic Cemetery and after exercises
there, will return by way of Sixth street to Main street and there disband.
Dinner will be served by the W.R.C. at the G.A.R. Hall at 12 noon.
At 2 o’clock p.m. the societies will reassemble at the Opera House and
listen to an oration by Rev. J. E. Snowden.
At the usual hour in the evening, the W.R.C. will give an entertainment in
the Opera House.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
May 31, 1892
FLOWER BEDECKED.
THE GRAVES OF THE DEAD HEROES ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.
LeMars Celebrates Decoration Day in an Appropriate Manner—The Boy Cadets and
the Gray Haired Veterans March Together To Do the Honors. An Able Sermon.
If the weather had been planned for Decoration Day, it could not have been
made better. The beautiful sunshine fell through the air with just enough
accompaniment of cool wind to make the walk or ride to the cemeteries,
enjoyable. At an early hour the people of the city began to gather at the
G.A.R. headquarters and at 9:30 promptly the young American cadets and the
veterans of this post led the procession on Main street toward the cemetery.
The order of the procession and line of march to the cemeteries were
substantially as given in the programs. Fifty carriages and several hundred
people formed in the procession to pay tribute of respect to the dead
heroes. The impressive ceremonies were performed in the cemeteries: many
beautiful flowers strewn upon their graves and the people returned to the
city to attend the other G.A.R. exercises of the day. Unfortunately, the
Rev. J. E. Snowden, being called away, the afternoon exercises with the
address were omitted.
In the evening six to seven hundred people gathered in the Opera House to
witness the program announced in Friday’s issue of this paper. The
entertainment was very similar to one given before except the tambourine
drill given by twenty girls which was very fine indeed. The proceeds of the
day and evening were very satisfactory to the societies.
The protestant churches of the city held union memorial services at the
opera house Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Every seat in the building was occupied and
the program carried out fully without a break or flaw. As usual on such
occasions, the house was decorated with bunting, pictures and most beautiful
plants. The address of Rev. Mrs. J. W. Walker was based upon the text found
in Exodus 13:10, “Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season
from year to year.” She spoke of the plagues sent upon Egypt, of the cure by
sprinkling of blood upon the lintels and the pass over ceremonies in
commemoration of the event and the allusion of the text to that event.
“Nothing is soon forgotten than the grave,” said the speaker “and hence his
memorial day is instituted to keep fresh in our minds the memory of the
brave men who died in the service of their country. This day is also a
tangible memorial of human slavery and the fact that 12000000 people were
freed from its bondage.” She spoke of the work that the soldiers had done
and of their valor and suffering; of their honor and integrity in suffering,
and rotting in rebel prisons rather than forsake their country and its cause
in the hour of peril. She spoke of women of our country who have done and do
great deeds and make sacrifices in the Women’s Relief Corps. One can imagine
men going forth to deeds of glory and daring with strains of martial music
to cheer them, but the women go forth among the dead and dying, without pomp
or display, and do noble work. She compared the wars of 1776 and 1861. In
the first war the consideration was a redress for grievances, while in the
second the matter of human freedom from slavery was involved.
The address throughout was full of thought and was listened to by the large audience with great interest.
~Submitted for posting by volunteer, Linda Ziemann