Contributed by Claudia Groh, Transcribed by Mike Peterson
1901 MEMORIAL DAY
Nashua Reporter, 30 May 1901
OUR HONORED DEAD
Appropriate Services Mark the Day Set
Apart to Keep Sacred the Memory
of Our Departed Soldiers
Today is the hallowed day when all over this land the solemn memorial services are held to sacred commemoration of our loved soldiers who gave so much for their country's welfare. Early this morning the boys of '61 and their co-workers, the ladies of the Relief Corps began gathering at the Post routes to get in readiness the flags and flowers to decorate the graves of their departed comrades in the various cemeteries.
At 8 o'clock, headed by a squad from Co. D, of Charles City and accompanied by the Relief Corps, the veterans to the stirring music of the life and drum marched to Oak Hill cemetery and paid their tribute of love and honor to their comrades who had gone before.
The other cemeteries were then visited after which they all returned to the G. A. R. hall where dinner was served. This afternoon at the opera house a memorial address was delivered by Rev. Ewin Ewell, and a program of music and recitations rendered. Following are the names of the dead, who are buried in our cemeteries:
John Felcher, G27th Iowa inf.
John Harris, G27th Iowa inf.
L. Jackson Dowd, G27th Iowa inf.
Giles Hall, G27th Iowa inf.
Thos W. Price, G27th Iowa inf.
BURIED AT BECK CEMETERY
Robert Beck, G27th Iowa inf.
MEMORIAL ODE TO THE UNKNOWN DEAD
(By C. M.)
Ten thousand of patriot freemen
Went forth at the beat of the drum
To rescue our dear bleeding country
Or fall ere the task was done
Ah, well we remember the morning
When our brave boys bade us adieu
How proudly they marched to the music
Arrayed in the National blue
Beneath Southern myrtle and roses
Sleep many of that patriot band
How nobly they fought, but have fallen
Far, far from their dear native land
In unknown graves they are sleeping
Our heroes so brave and so true
No stone, no flower for the resting place
Of the boys who wore the blue
Breath sweet, pathetic, tender strains
Fit to the true and brave
Whose duty done, and nobly dear
Rest in a soldier's unknown grave
The so true men should ne'er be forgotten
Their mem'ry still cherished will be
As long as the flag of the Union
Waves over the land of the free