Decoration Day in Chester.
May 30th, a day set apart, in honor of those who died in the service of their country and the many who so nobly served under the stars and stripes but who have since succumbed to the relentless foe Death and now sleep in some of the many cemeteries that dot our land, was observed here in a manner reflecting much credit on our village.
The committee on arrangements was appointed from and by Walton Hose Company and consisted of W. A. Lawrence President of the village, G. M. Roe, member of the Board of Trustees, and C. W. Kerner, President of the Company.
The exercises as carried out were as follows: Procession was formed near the Chester Depot by R. P. Conklin Foreman of Walton Hose Company, as Marshal, in the following order:
Marshal, on horseback.
Chester Military Band.
Veterans, carrying Co. D flag, 124th, Regt. N. Y. Vols.
Walton Hose Company.
Decorating Committee of young ladies selected from Chester Union School in charge of Prof. F. M. Wilson, in a large wagon decorated with the stars and stripes.
Chorus of ladies and gentlemen in a large wagon decorated with red, white and blue bunting and carrying large flag.
Mayor with Orator of the day.
Trustees and Citizens in carriages.
About seventy carriages were in line.
Within the cemetery grounds an ample platform had been erected about twenty-five feet from the front wall and between the two main entrances. Here, after decorating the graves, the principal exercises of the day took place.
Introducing the programme, William A. Lawrence, President of the Village, in a few well chosen, earnest and heartfelt words stated the object of the meeting and expressed a desire that there might in the future be an annual gathering about the graves of our fallen heroes, and that their deeds of valor, their sufferings and hardships on the march, the field of battle and in the hospital might be enshrined in our memory and that of the coming generations. The programme was as follows:
Singing.-"America," by a well selected chorus of ladies and gentlemen, Miss Lizzie M. Thompson presiding at the organ.
Prayer.-Rev J. E. Bernart offered an earnest, patriotic invocation for the living, a sincere prayer that the dead might not be forgotten and that God's blessing might rest upon our beloved country.
Singing.-"They Fought and Fell." Chorus.
Recitation.-"Memorial Day," was delivered by Charles W. Kerner in a manner well calculated to stir the heart of every true patriot to a desire to keep alive this day and to hold in grateful remembrance those whose deeds of valor made it possible for the stars and stripes to float over an "undivided nation."
Singing.-"We Deck their Graves Alike To-day," was well rendered by a quartet composed of Messrs. C. F. Wood, H. L. Decker, M. Wilkin and C. F. Dunning.
Recitation -"Memorial Day," by Miss Katie D. Roe was a beautiful tribute to the memory of the fallen heroes, a touching appeal to keep before this nation the sacrifice they made to main the the union which proudly points to "the red, the white, the blue."
Selection.-By the Chester Military Band.
Address.-Rev. R. M. Stratton, D. D., was then introduced and for about half an hour held the close attention of all his hearers. His remarks, full of patriotism judiciously intersperse, with humor, were warmly received. That the address was highly appreciated by the veterans present was very evident from their fervent applause.
Singing.-"The Flower of Liberty," Chorus.
Mr. Joseph Board then read the names of deceased soldiers interred in our cemetery, as follows:
War of the Revolution,
John Jackson.
War of 1812,
Eton Jones Vail.
John Lockwood.
James Bodle.
Ebenezer Foster.
Amariah Fuller.
War of the Rebellion,
Peter C. Wood, 124th Regt. N. Y. Vols.
Andrew J. Bodle, "
Charles W. Bodle, "
Frederick Wood, "
David H. Corwin, "
James C. Bates, 95th, "
Gilbert White, 56th, "
Charles D. House, 56th, "
C. Brewster Coleman 176 ""
Benjamin F. Decker, 5th, Heavy Artillery
Geo. S. Banker, Battery C., "
Joseph McGinness, 11th, Regt. N.Y. Vols.
Florence McGinness, "
Walton Hose Company, which made its first appearance in public as a company, is a body of which our village may well be proud and on which our community can rely for faithful discharge of duty whenever its services are needed.
The Chester Military Band, too well-known to need comment, deserves highest praise for entering so heartily into the celebration the success of which so largely depended upon its cooperation.
This Memorial Day commemoration was one in which our people may justly take pride and reflects praise upon all who in any manner contributed to its success.
An estimate by good authority fixes eight hundred as the number of people present.
D. D. O.
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Unless your envelopes state the number of days you wish your letter held, the postmaster, by a new ruling, will hold them thirty days instead of ten. This is important to men who do not wish their letters, when not delivered, detained over five or ten days. Have your envelopes printed at The News office.
