Posts Tagged ‘Memorial Day’

30
May

People Beautify Cemetery Grounds

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 30, 1905

People Beautify Cemetery Grounds

Everything is Well Kept

Despite The Fact That Memorial Day Exercises were Held at the Armory Many People Went To The Cemetery.

Early this morning in honor of the soldier dead, the town was all a-glitter with the red and the white and the blue of the stars and stripes. Nearly all of the residence districts as well as the business portion of the town scintillated with the bright colors that represent the nation’s glory.

The dawn broke clear and bright – it seemed in honor of the day – and the cool breeze made conditions ideal for the memorial services. Nature herself was in sympathy and furnished flowers in lavish quantities for decorative purposes.

For the past week or ten days there has been a steady procession of people to and from the cemeteries, where they have been engaged in beautifying resting places of their loved ones. Oakland is today a bower of bright beauty. There is scarce a grave in the whole cemetery that is not heaped with flowers.

In spite of the fact that the exercises were held in the Armory instead of at the cemetery, the city of the dead was filled with crowds of people from early in the forenoon till late evening. The departed ones were not forgotten. Flowering shrubs and beautiful foliage trees were planted on the mounds and decorative pieces of all sorts were erected.

The work of the care takers at the cemetery this spring has been unusually well done and everything in perfect shape. There are no dead branches or fallen leaves on the turf, and the grass is as thick and firm as a carpet. The improvements that have been made in this line are noticeable and there is not much left to desire in the way of beautifying the place.

A large number of new monuments have been installed this spring and these too, add much to the general beauty of the place. The two cities of the dead – the Catholic and Oakland, were never in better condition than they are this spring, the wet weather of the past two or three years has put the trees and sod in the most excellent condition.

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29
May

Observance of Memorial Day

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The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 29, 1906

Observance of Memorial Day

Day Will Be Observed Here Tomorrow With Fitting Ceremonies

Stores Close in Afternoon

Parade Through the Street – Music by Band – Speech, Reading and Music At the Cemetery – Program in Full Given.

At a late hour this afternoon it was decided to not have any services at the cemetery because of the bad weather.

The program intended for the cemetery will be carried out at the armory.

Memorial day, May 30, which comes tomorrow, will be observed in Fort Dodge in the usual fitting manner. The G.A.R., W.R.C. and similar societies have taken great pains in preparing a program worthy of the hearing of all.

Nearly all of the stores of the city will close in the afternoon. The morning will be attended with the usual business transaction. At the post office the genera; deliver will be open from 7 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. The carriers will make a business delivery at 8 a.m. and at 11 a.m. and theusual forenoon residence delivery. Carrier windows open from 5 to 6 p.m. Business collections will be made at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Most of the offices and similar places of business will be closed. The Messenger will issue its daily publication as usual. The Chronicle will suspend. Following is the official program of the day in full:

Program for Memorial Day.

Marshal, Asa Wrenn.
President, M. Mitchell.
Speaker, H.W. Stowe.
Fort Donelson post will meet at G.A.R. hall at 9 a.m. and procession will move at 10 o’clock to the following order.
Martial band.
Carriages with president, speaker, Rev. Carroll, and Miss Minnie Oard.
C0. G. I.N.G.
Fort Donelson post G.A.R.
Sons of Veterans
W.R.C. in carriages.

Program at Cemetery

Call to order by M. Mitchell.
Music by band.
Prayer by Rev. Carroll.
Reading roll of honor by adjutant. Assemblage will rise and uncover during the reading.
Reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address by Miss Minnie Oard.
Memorial address by H.W. Stowe.
Music by the band.
Benediction by Rev. Carroll.
The G.A.R. post will reassemble at the First M.E. church and will march back to the post room.

The railway freight offices of the city will be closed during memorial day.

(Editor’s note: G.A.R. is Grand Army of the Republic, an organization for Union soldiers. I do not know what I.N.G. and W.R.C. mean.)

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