MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATIONS
Various Dates
MEMORIAL DAY 1890
Composed and read by Mrs. P. R. Gibson as a part of Decoration Day services.
Again we meet, Memorial Day,
In memory of our honored dead;
Again, where rests their sacred clay,
Our flowers are laid, our tears are shed;
A grateful country homage pays,
And marks this as her day of days.
How memory brings again the past,
As by these hallowed mounds we stand;
When bugle call, and trumpet blast,
Their echoes wake throughout the land.
O, when were ever hearts so true,
When called, as our brave boys in blue?
But only yesterday, it seems,
When these brave boys, to duty true,
Through mountain pass, o'er rolling streams,
Marched on, through all, to dare and do;
Or die, if need by, that our stars
Should ne'er go down neath rebel bars.
But only yesterday, and yet
Long years have passed and now to-day,
To tell that we do not forget,
We bring again the flowers of May,
And pledge anew, above their dust,
To be as faithful to our trust.
Their deeds in song and story told,
Wrought out in toil, and blood and flame,
As years go by can ne'er grow old,
Nor even bring a thought of shame
Save to the hearts of those who sought
Our country ill, and evil wrought.
But soon or late, we, too must rest,
Our heads as low 'neath green sod pressed,
And over us the flowers May,
Perchance, be strewn by those we love,
In memory, our graves above.
Then well for us if faithful; true,
To duty and our country's call,
As these our noble boys in blue,
Who gave their strength, their life, their all,
That Freedon's starry flag may wave,
To-day, above each honored grave.
Their weary march through cold and heat
Has passed, for there no bugle call
Can wake them from their rest so sweet,
In earthly temple home or hall-
Safe are they, in that home above,
Where comes no strife, but only love.
O, then be sure our heroes dwell,
Then mark their graves with loving care;
We know "God doeth all things well,"
And we may trust Him everywhere
And give Him what we may not keep-
"He giveth His beloved sleep."
In memory of our honored dead;
Again, where rests their sacred clay,
Our flowers are laid, our tears are shed;
A grateful country homage pays,
And marks this as her day of days.
How memory brings again the past,
As by these hallowed mounds we stand;
When bugle call, and trumpet blast,
Their echoes wake throughout the land.
O, when were ever hearts so true,
When called, as our brave boys in blue?
But only yesterday, it seems,
When these brave boys, to duty true,
Through mountain pass, o'er rolling streams,
Marched on, through all, to dare and do;
Or die, if need by, that our stars
Should ne'er go down neath rebel bars.
But only yesterday, and yet
Long years have passed and now to-day,
To tell that we do not forget,
We bring again the flowers of May,
And pledge anew, above their dust,
To be as faithful to our trust.
Their deeds in song and story told,
Wrought out in toil, and blood and flame,
As years go by can ne'er grow old,
Nor even bring a thought of shame
Save to the hearts of those who sought
Our country ill, and evil wrought.
But soon or late, we, too must rest,
Our heads as low 'neath green sod pressed,
And over us the flowers May,
Perchance, be strewn by those we love,
In memory, our graves above.
Then well for us if faithful; true,
To duty and our country's call,
As these our noble boys in blue,
Who gave their strength, their life, their all,
That Freedon's starry flag may wave,
To-day, above each honored grave.
Their weary march through cold and heat
Has passed, for there no bugle call
Can wake them from their rest so sweet,
In earthly temple home or hall-
Safe are they, in that home above,
Where comes no strife, but only love.
O, then be sure our heroes dwell,
Then mark their graves with loving care;
We know "God doeth all things well,"
And we may trust Him everywhere
And give Him what we may not keep-
"He giveth His beloved sleep."
MEMORIAL DAY
May 29, 1889 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
Headquarters McKeehan Post No. 36
Twenty-one years ago the 30th day May in each year was set apart by the Grand Army of the Republic for appropriate decoration of the last resting
places of those who gave military aid to maintain the unity of our nation during the great struggle from 1861 to 1866. This affectionate rememberance of those who
offered, perhaps lost their lives that our country might not be divided was approved by the patriotic people of the nation and by common acceptance Memorial Day is
now observed as a holiday wherever the stars and stripes float, and with one accord the people visit the cemeteries to adorn with flowers the graves of our departed
heroes.In accordance with this custom, on Thursday, May 30th, McKeehan Past will proceed to the city cemetery, where by appropriate ceremonies the soldier dead there and elsewhere deposited will be remembered, and an oration in their honor will be delivered Post Commander of the Department of Indiana, A. L. Vanosdal.
All lodges in this city and all citizens are invited to join McKeehan Post in its march to the cemetery, and to be present and participate in ceremonies.
The preparation of flowers and their conveyance to the cemetery by little girls, and the decoration of the graves will be in charge of the ladies of the Woman's Relief Corps. All girls are invited to assist in carrying flowers.
Past Commander, F. W. Verbarg, is detailed to take charge of the firing squad, and Past Commander, P. C. McGannon, is detailed to take charge of the procession.
McKeehan Post and all lodges and others joining will meet at Odd Fellow's Hall at one o'clock p.m., from which place, after proper hall ceremonies, all will proceed to the cemetery. J. C. Cope,
Commander McKeehan Post.
PROCLAMANATION
It is a time-honored custom promulgated and established by Grand Army of the Republic, to set apart a certain day in each year to be devoted to keeping
alive the memories of the past; to gather around the graves of our fallen heroes, and as token of love and patriotic devotion strew flowers upon the mounds of those who gave up
their lives that our country might live. The 30th day of May is thus celebrated as a National Holiday. It is fitting that the American people observe that day as a hold day
indeed.I therefore, as Mayor of the city of North Vernon, respectfully request that on the day named all business be suspended between the hours of one o'clock and four o'clock p.m., and that our citizens accept the invitation of McKeehan Post G.A.R. to participate with them in the proper observance of the day. W. S. PRATHER, MAYOR
MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS WELL ATTENDED
June 2, 1921 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
Veterans of Every War Marched in Parade
The Memorial Day program, which had been prepared by the local Post of the American Legion, was most carefully carried out, the service being one of the most impressive of its kind ever held here. The parade formed on Walnut Street and moved off at two o'clock. The music was furnished by the North Vernon Band, aided in no small way by the boys of the Junior band, who appeared for the first time in their new uniforms of immaculate white, and who performed their part in the program splendidly, considering that they have been organized and practicing only a few weeks. The Civil War Veterans of the G.A.R., The Spanish American War Veterans, The World War Veterans, the War Mother, The women of the Legion Auxiliary, and a representation from the fraternal organizations of the city, composed the parade, which moved to the City Cemetery, where the memorial service was held.
At the cemetery, the veterans of the three wars formed a hollow square around the grave of a Civil War Veteran, where the service took place. The G.A.R. first held the ritualistic ceremonies of the organization, which was followed by the memorial ceremonies of the Spanish American War Veterans, and this in turn was followed by the memorial ceremonies of the World War Veterans. Rev. Davis, who was chaplain of the Rainbow Divistion, in overseas service in the World War, was the principal speaker of the afternoon. At the conclusion of his speech, the Star Spangled Banner was played, the firing squad fired the salute and the bugle sounded "Taps".
A committee of men from the G.A.R., the Spanish American War Veterans and The American Legion visited the City Cemetery and St. Mary's Cemetery, during the morning and placed a flag on the grave of each departed comrade. Flowers, too, were generously distributed on the graves of the heroes, the making every effort to find the grave of every soldier of any war.
Committees were also appointed by The American Legion for each township of the county, whose duty it was to see that the grave of every soldier in any cemetery each township was marked with a flag and decorated with flowers. Both flags and flowers were furnished by Jennings County Post, to any of the township committees that requested them.
The day's program was most interesting and ampressive, especially so to the old veterans of the G.A.R., who for so many years, trudged alone to the cemeteries on each Memorial Day, their number decreasing and their graves increasing yearling. Their fine spirit of patriotism and love and commemoration for their comrades is now reflected in the younger generaton, the veterans of The Gread World War, who through the chastening influence of war and suffering, are able to appreciate the fine spirit of the veterans of '61, and who showed their respect for these aged veterans by giving the old G.A.R. the place of honor on the Memborial Day program.
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