Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, June 2, 1889
pg. 4

DECORATION DAY
The Solemn Observance of the Day - Civic and Military Display - Eloquent and Patriotic Addresses by Congressman Hare, Dr. Acheson & Others
Decorating Day was observed in this city with solemn and appropriate ceremonies. The program of the day was as follows:
1. Drum Corps
2. G.A.R. and ex-Confederate soldiers
3. Denison Rifles

The line of march was as follows:
Down Main street to Houston avenue, thence north to Sears street, thence east to Oakwood cemetery to the soldiers' monument, where the following exercises were rendered:
1. Call of order by Post Commander L.B. Moore
2. Music by the choir
3. Ritual service by the G.A.R. and decoration of the monument to the dead heroes.
4. Firing salute by the Denison Rifles
The column then brok into squads and decorated the graves. At the sound of the long roll on the muffled drums the congregation were assembled at the stand where the exercises will be continued with addresses from Dr. A.W. Acheson and Judge Silas Hare; music and recitations, concluding with the national hymn, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," by the whole assembly, closing with the benediction.
Perhaps no city in the state made a greater effort to observe Decoration Day than Denison, and the demostration of respect paid to the memory of the dead was well worthy of our people. This custom, which owes its origin to Gen. John A. Logan, has been observed on each 30th of May for a number of years, and has steadily grown in favor until it is now regarded as one of the events of the year. The ceremonies of the day were conducted under the auspices of the G.A.R. A cordial invitation was extended to those who wore the gray to meet and fraternize, and the invitation was cordially accepted, for in the procession there were about as many Confederates as Union soldiers. There were men who marched with Sherman to the sea, and men who shed glory and lustre on the "lost cause." To them the sounds of battle are no more than a memory of the past, but they still remember the men who died fighting with and against them, and as each anniversary of Decoration Day comes round again they go to strew with loving hands flowers upon the graves of victor and vanquished.
Last year Decoration Day was a small affair, the participants not numbering more than 300 in the line of march to the cemetery. This year the whole city paid tribute to the event, and the procession was the largest ever witnessed.
The details embraced many features calculated to keep alive a custom which is dear alike to northern and southern soldiers who fought for what they conceived to be the right. In memory of the day a large display of patriotic bunting was made along the route of the procession, and the sidewalks were lined with sympathizing spectators. The program as published was carried out, but there were other features which enhanced the interest of the occasaion. There were 3 floats decorated in the most lavish and tasteful manner, with red, white and blue bunting. Under the pavilion of the 2 first floats were seated 42 young misses, representing the number of states in the Union. On the 3rd float a number of young ladies were also seated. This feature of the procession was very pretty and attracted much attention from the street spectators. At the head of the procession rode the marshall of the day, Capt. Kretsinger, of the Rifles, Lem Moton and Howard Hanna. Then came the Mechanics' band, palying Saul's dead march. The band was followed by the G.A.R., the national ensign waving to the fore. The vehicles in the procession numbered 204. It was the most imposing street pageant ever witnessed in Denison.

AT THE CEMETERY
A more beautiful and perfect day never blessed our sunny clime. The sky was without a cloud; the air was tempered with a cool, north breeze which made existence a delight. Oakwood cemetery never witnessed such a scene as on Decoration Day. Nearly 2000 people convened there to pay tribute to the sacred memory of the dead. If it is possible that the spirits of the departed visit the scenes of earth, there must h ave been joy pervading the ranks of those shadow heroes who have departed from so many battle fields.
The column having reached the cemetery, proceedings were at once begun to carry out the program, which was done with but a slight interruption caused by the collapse of the platform just after prayer by Rev. Lamb. He had just taken his seat and the band had begun to play, when an ominous sound of crashing timbers made itself heard above the music and the chatter of the audience, warning people of danger. Fortunately, the platform was only about 4 feet from the ground, and most of the people on it had the presence of mind to seat themselves, so that a short slide to the ground, a little fright and slight interruption to the exercises were the resulting evils, there being no one injured. Soon a float was substituted for the kindling wood which had but a few moments before been a platform, and the exercises were continued as if there had been no interruption.
The order of exercises was as follows:
Firing salute by Denison Rifles
Decoration of graves by the assembly, while the band played
Prayer by Rev. Lamb
Music by the band
Speeches by Dr. Alexander W. Acheson, Judge Hare of Sherman and Col. Hodges of Ft. Smith
Music by the band
Music by the choir, "Columbia,"
Mottoes by the little ones who represented the 42 states
"My Country, 'Tis of Thee" by the assembly, led by Capt. Kretsinger, assisted by the little girls.
Dr. Acheson, the first speaker, gave a good talk upon the war and its results, and ended with a glowing tribute to the soldiers who gave their lives so bravely that we might continue to enjoy the blessings of a united country. But in eulogizing the one, he had no words of condemnation for the other, but spoke of those who fought on the other side tenderly and sadly. He dwelt chiefly on the benefits of the war to us who live to enjoy the blessings so dearly purchased, remarking that they were worth all the blood and treasure they had cost.
Dr. Acheson was followed by Judge Hare, who views the subject from a different standpoint, he being an ex-Confederate while the doctor wore the "blue." Judge Hare's talk was calm and dispassionate, and in it he showed how sentiments and opinions have changed. The narrow bitter prejudice that prevented either side from seeing any good in the other has wholly passed from intelligent minds, and, as the Judge remarked, "people have come to see and acknowledge that each was actuated by principle, that each but did the duty which was presented to be done, and that each deserved the honor and respect for having detended his principle with his blood." There was a time when such sentiments were buried beneath black clouds of sectional animosity, but the commingling of tears over the graves of the "blue and gray" alike, proves that that time has forever passed away. The one question yet likely to revive sectional animosity - the race question - the judge advised to not agitate. It too, in his opinion, will be settled by time, and result in neither social nor political equality, the white race is the governing race, as time will prove, if patience is but exercised.
Col. Hodges closed the speaking by a few off-hand remakrs, chiefly eulogistic of the ladies, saying, "It is to them that praise is largely due for the growth of a feeling of harmony and love, they having impartially selected sweethearts from among the "blue" as well as the "gray."
The exercises throughout show a spirit of harmony and good will that is commendable. When they, who fought each other bravely during 4 long, bloody years, can come together to commemorate the brave deeds of those who fell, and mingle their tears together at their graves, while they scatter flowers over all alike, then has the evil of those troublous times passed away, while only the good remains.
The 42 little girls, clothes in white, and each wearing a badge bearing the name of the State she represented, presented a lovely appearance. As each rose to recite her motto the thought arose, "The purity and patriotism of the mothers will be handed on to the daughters, and, living in them, our cou ntry will continue to be grand and free."
A temporary monument to the "unknown dead," reared its white shaft just east of the speaker's stand, and was decorated with flowers. At night Oakwood was lovely beneath its covering of bloom, and the perfume wafted by the evening breeze will ascend, sweet incense to rest beneath the shade of the trees.
After completing the program at Oakwood the procession reformed and proceeded to Fairview Cemetery to decorate the graves there. The people of Denison may have that feeling of enjoyment which comes from having done a kind and courteous act.