Logan’s Memorial Day Order

Logan’s Memorial Day Order. . General Orders, No. 11, Headquarters Grand Army of the Republic, Washington D.C. May 5, 1868. I. The 30th day of May, 1869, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and those bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances my permit. We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things of soldiers, sailors, and marines, who united to suppress the late rebellion. What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains and their deaths a tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton food tread rudely on such hollowed grounds let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and found mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming connections that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remains to us.

Let us then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionate grounds above them with the greenest lowers of springtime. Lt use raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor. Let us in this solemn presences renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us sacred charge upon the nation’s gratitude. The soldier’s and sailors’s widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the commander in chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be lift up from year to year while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his dead comrades he desires the public press to call attention to this order and lend its friendly aide and bringing it to the notice to comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith. III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this order effective. , By command of- , John Logan, Commander in Chief , N.F. Chirman, Adjutant General.