260 MAJOR JOHN F. LACEY 



You will not live, comrades, to see the great things of 

 the next century, but you have seen and also have been a 

 part of the greatness of the century that is about to pass 

 away. 



The greatest event, and the one that will reach the 

 furthest into the future, was the struggle in which you 

 took part, and the decision in that contest settled the 

 question as to the permanence and union of the great na- 

 tion to which we belong. 



In gathering on this occasion we hold an annual fes- 

 tival of flowers for the dead. If there is any substance 

 ethereal and delicate enough in all the earth to reach the 

 spirits of the dead, it seems that it would be the invisible 

 odor of the flowers. In all nations and in all ages flowers 

 have been looked upon as the proper offering to the de- 

 parted. 



Hail to the dead — the nation 's dead — 



Who sleep by wood and field and shore ! 

 To them we come with loyal tread 



And kneel beside their graves once more. 

 With notes of bugle, song and drum, 



With flying flags and sweet May flowers, 

 And grateful hearts, again we come 

 To deck these soldier graves of ours. 



The school children are present on these occasions and 

 they will pass the word on to ensuing generations. One 

 generation speaks to another. The patriots of 1776 spoke 

 to the men of 1812, and they again to our soldiers in Mex- 

 ico whose example cheered the men of 1861, and now the 

 survivors of the Civil War bid God-speed to the boys of 

 1898. 



Toward the disabled defenders of our country there 

 has always been held the warmest feelings of gratitude. 

 When Comrade Tanner, who lost both feet at Bull Run, 

 was taken to the hospital for another amputation a few 



