Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, June 3, 1888
pg. 1

DECORATION DAY
Enormous Turnout and Inspiring Ceremonies at Oakwood

The most imposting celebration of Decoration Day that has ever taken place in the city transpired Wednesday afternoon. The Grand Army of the Republic had been the main agitators of the event and having enlisted the sympathy and assistance of the ladies of the Oakwood Cemetery Association and the Denison Rifles, a most impressive and elaborate program was arranged and faithfully carried out Nothing could have been more propitious than the character of the weather - bright, clear and only moderately warm - and though the march and ceremonies were quite long, they were executed without entailing upon either soldier or citizen any excessive fatigue. The procession was formed in front of the Odd Fellows hall, on West Main street, and proceeded down Main street to Houston avenue, north on the avenue to Sears street, and thence east to the cemetery, in the following order:
Fife and drum
Denison Rifles in uniform, with guns and accounttrements
Choir and speakers
Thirteen ladies in black in carriages
Oakwood Cemetery Association
A float with 38 little girls
Ex-Confederate soldiers
G.A.R. members
Citizens on foot
Citizens in carriages
Citizens on horseback

The procession was over a mile in length and only included part of the crowd that took part in the celebration, the cemetery being already well filled with people when the procession arrived there.
On arriving at the gate the rifles took open order and formed on either side of the gate at "parade rest," while the procession moved through. The ceremonies were opened by the call to order by Post Commander S.G. Clark. A choir of some 15 voices supported by organ accompaniment then rendered a martial glee which was followed in regular order by the invocation, more music by the choir, eloquent addresses by Capt. Kretsinger of the Rifles of Dr. Ford of the G.A.R., another musical number by the choir, a recitation by Miss Birdie Crooks, and more choral music.
Then commenced the decoration of graves. Muffled drums sounded and the G.A.R. veterans and ex-Confederates formed in rank at the head of each grave, the wives of old soldiers forming at the foot on the inside of each circle. The choir chanted a requium for the dead, while the G.A.R. and ex-Confederates stood uncovered, at parade rest. The flas was lowered, the drums so unded again and the little girls delegated for the purpose placed wreaths and festoons of flowers upon the graves. In the honors to the unknown dead the G.A.R. was represented by Mr. C.B. Green and Mrs. R.L. Beck and the ex-Confederates by Judge J.M. Cook and Mrs. Brunett, each couple being attended by a little girl, The salute to the unknown dead was fired by the Denison Rifles, the bugle and drum corps sounding "lights out" between the first two vollies and "Last Post" after the third. The entire assembly of not less than 3,000 people then joined in singing "America" after which came the benediction and a general exocus from the cemetery. Mr. L.B. Moore acted as Marshal of the Day with Howard Hanna in blue as Federal assistant and Lem Moton in gray as Conederate assistant.
The brilliant success of the whole demostration reflects the highest credit upon the G.A.R., the ex-Confederates, the Denison Rifles, the ladies of the Cemetery Association, and all who were instrumental in carrying out the programme. The Denison Rifles who made their first appearance in a public capacity deported themselves like veterans, their firing of the salutes being as one man.