The Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska), Saturday, May 31, 1889
Memorial Day Observance at Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Commander H.C. McArthur of Farragut post then proceeded to welcome the people on behalf of the Grand Army, Relief Corps and Sons of Veterans. He spoke in a clear, ringing voice and the people listened with close interest to the following excellent address:
“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.”
As the years move on it is a pleasure to know the sacred memory of our noble dead is cherished by a grateful people.
A quarter of a century ago the clash of arms was heard, and patriots’ blood was beeing freely shed that the land of the free might be perpetuated. Today we meet the most prosperous nation on the globe, made so by the sacrifice of its defenders. We unite to honor the memory of our brave and beloved, to enrich and enoble our lives by recalling a public heroism and a private worth that are immortal; to encourage by our solemn service a more zealous and stalwart patriotism.
This is a day when the living soldier thinks tenderly of his dead comrades, and honors the place where he lies in stillness and shadow. It is not the only day of the year, however, when his heart goes out in memory of dead comrades. He shows it in the works of mercy and love for the widows and orphans of those whe fell in the conflict, or who, having survived it, have dropped by the way side in the march of life. The veterans seen today marching with straggling files toward the cemeteries, and banded together in the cause of charity. Every year the Grand Army of the Republic expends $300,000 to $400,000 for the relief of destitute soldiers and their families. Why should it not be thus? Such work concerns the sacred memory of noble patriots.
Today is the festival of our dead, though many eyes are clouded with tears, though many lives are still desolate because of the loved one who did not return, though every grave is the shrine of a sorrow whose influence is still potent. Despite all of these, today is a festival of our dead. And now in this silent camping ground, as we gardland these passionless mounds, let us recall those who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes. Let us recall their toils, their suffereings, their heroism, their supremem fidelity in camp, in prison pen, on the treacherous picket line, amid the shock of battle, that the flag under which they fought, and from the shadow of whose folds they were promoted, may never be dishonored, that the country for whose union and supremecy thay fell may have th emost enthusiastic devotion of every citizen. This work not only concerns the old and middle aged, but it concerns our children, that they may learn that great lesson of patriotism, that the security of the state must depend upon the fidelity of the citizen. As we stand by these graves as before an alter we pledge ourselves anew, so help us God, the memory of our dead shall encourage and strengthen in us all a more loyal patriotism. Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedoom to a race in chains, and their death a tattoo of a rebellious tyranny in arms. We will guard their graves with zealous care while we live and hope our devotion to the memory of our dead comrades will be taken up after we pass away and this day be observed by future generations.
Friends, as commander of Farragut post, twenty-five, Grand Army of the Republic, and speaking also for Appomattox post, No. 214, and all old soldiers present, I welcome you in the name of my comrades to this public service. To us, this is Memorial Day of stalwart bravery, of patriotic heroism, of national faith. It is the freedom day of a race emancipated from bondage and of a nation redeemed. It is dear to every soldier. It deepens in our hearts a memory of our brave and our beloved that have fallen.
“They sleep today in silent lines,
Heroic men, whome Fame hath lent
The glory that forever sines
To be their last monument.
And years and men may pass, but they,
Shrined in their countries bosom live
In fairer forms than flesh or clay.,
The fitter forms that Fame can give.”
Again I welcome you to this memorial service, and while our minds go back to the years when true heroism and patriot lives were required to bring us the blessing of today, let us over these mounds receive that in future we will afford a more generous relief to the families of those whose last measure of devotion for country was sealed with their life’s blood.
Remember that a redeemed nation came up through the blood of its defenders, mingled with the tears and anguish of their widows and orphans. We, as a people, must not, will not, forget the memory of the one or the needs of the other.
Henry Clay McArthur was the commander of Farragut Post in 1889. Henry enlisted in 1861 in Company E of the 15th Iowa Infantry. He was wounded slightly in the hip April 6, 1862 at Shiloh and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1863. He was again wounded the left hip severely on July 21, 1864 near Atlanta. He is credited with having placed the Union flag on top of the capital building in Columbia, SC on Feb. 17, 1865 and is considered a hero of the 15th Iowa. Henry mustered out July 24, 1865 at Louisville, KY. Henry is buried in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE.
Visit his online grave at FindAGrave.