The Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska), Saturday, May 31, 1889
May 31, 1889. Memorial Day Observance at Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska. The memorial address was delivered by W.B. McArthur, son of civil war veteran Henry C. McArthur, and member of the Sons of Union Veterans:
The beautiful custom of repairing each cycling year to the resting place of our heroic dead and doing homage to their memory is as yet in its infancy. The life of Memorial day has but just begun. It has for its future many long years which will continually remind the world of the sacrifices made to lift our free American out of the dark depths of slavery and place upon the dome of the clear sky that grand word, liberty. The duty of making Memorial day perpetual devolves upon us, as Sons of Veterans.
It is with a feeling far greater than that of pleasure that I am able to address you, ladies who have taken upon yourselves the work of assisting in alleviating the sufferings of our nations’s defenders, and you, gentlemen, representatives of those unswerving men to so faithfully served our nation in her time or sorest need. It is with a feeling of just pride that in addressing you and assisting in these grand ceremonies I represent over 75,000 of the sons of those brave men who have banded themselves together under the significant title “Sons of Veterans,” to perpetuate the glory and keep green the memory of those loyal and brave sons of their country, who shouldered the musket in ’61 and for four long years followed the flag of their nation into the very jaws of death.
I do not remember the long, weary days and nights of watching for the return of loved ones. I do not remember how, at the call for volunteers, the loyal sons of America rallied to the support of our union. I do not remember the carnage and bloodshed all along the weary marchers through the south. I do not remember how brave men scaled breastworks; facing the deadly mouth of the cannon. I do not remember the time when that victory was won with the loss of over 300,000 of the gallant boys in blue. I do not remember all these things, but I have lived for almost twenty-five years in the shadow of that great conflict and in the experiences that since have ebbed and flowed. I can my mind’s eye back over those four years and attempt for a short time to live over the scenes of our fathers and I am almost overcome with wonder and admiration at the daring deeds and great achievements of the union soldiers. The cause for such bravery was not their individual protection; the motive for such bravery was not a selfish one. They fought not to destroy, but to save; not for themselves alone, but for home, kindred and a free country. Those brave and noble men fought for the perpetuation of freedom. To recount and recall the many battles on land and sea would be but repeating history to the children of this generation and of enumerating conflicts which are today more vivid to you, scarred veterans, than to anyone else. After many battles, many marches, many wounded and many dead, the long conflict was ended. They fought the hardest fight and won the greatest victory that history records, and greater honor is due no man, either living or dead, more than to those two and one-half million brave hearts who answered to their country’s call. Their achievements were incentives to greater victories. Their bravery an example for nations to follow. Truly Gen. Grant spoke words of wisdom when he wrote the army in his last order: “Your battles, sieges and marches have dimmed the luster of the worlds past military achievements and will be the patriots precedent in defense of liberty and right formal time to come.” And yet how often do we find many enjoying the dearly bought liberty of our land, who think the time is past for doing honor to the living representatives of our nation’s defenders, or paying tribute to our dead heroes. Stop for a moment in the busy whirlpool of live, and along the dust swept highways of commerce and think that not from any erroneous arguments, not from mere guess work, but from the investigations of the medical profession we know the average length of the life of our fathers has been shortened ten years on account of the hardships and exposure during their four years of carnage, in order that the blessings of a free government might be the inheritance of coming generations; and at the close of the war many who went to the front were numbered with the dead, and then ask if their great actions should not forever be kept alive and their memory kept green. Again if had not been for the old veterans, with eh assistance of their sister order, the graves of dead comrades would be grown up in forests and waving field of grain and the stones which marked their resting place be covered with the dust of ages.
But not so, Noble comrades, recalling those stirring incidents as if but yesterday, and zealously cherishing the memory of their dead brothers who stood elbow to elbow and shoulder to shoulder, were most influential in that his government should care for the unknown graves, scattered throughout the south and in erecting monuments to their memory. But the grandest monument is the one builded by their own hands, – “Our free America.”
Today wherever a few surviving veterans remain to recite the incidents of their military career, they are for a short time doing homage to the memory of dead friends, and tarry to drop a tear over an unnamed grave. Business, pleasure and the duty we owe to the present may dispel from our minds the dead past, but it will recur to us again and again with dearer attachments. For comrades, brothers and friends, “how poor this world would be without the grave–without the memory of its mighty dead.” That grand emblem of liberty which floats so calmly above our heads contains in its folds colors emblematic of the sacrifices and bloodshed for the nation; of the staunchness born to our country and of that sweet peace she now enjoys.
Each star shines with refulgent splendor in honor to those veterans, both living and dead. Our glorious banner of freedom heralds protection to her people, in whatever clime; whether their lot be cast on land or sea. Under its folds the weakest are protected, the strongest thus bow to its will. It is the emblem of all we are, of all we hope to be. And like the brightest star which outshines all others in the starry decked canopy of heaven, so that flag outshines all others, whether they be found dotted upon the seas, on the burning sands of the south or under the serene skies of Italy – a beacon light to exiles and a guide to tiger aims. It represents past sufferings and future hopes’ and waves in sacred honor to the living and the dead. To the scarred and the maimed – to the sisters who gave their brothers, to the mothers who gave their sons, to the wives who gave their husbands.
As our fathers preserved our flag unsullied and with every star more brilliant from experiences of martial scenes, so we, as sons, will be left to preserve it in its original glory.
“May never traitor’s touch pollute
The colors of the sky.
We want them pure to wrap around
Our heroes when they die.”
This is the first occasion, at least for several years, that the “Sons of Veterans” have joined with the Grand Army of the Republic in Memorial Day services, and it will be a pleasure for us to state, and a feeling of satisfaction to the comrades to know the underlying principles of our order and the feelings which fill our breasts. A few short years ago, when you representatives of many hard fought battles were still in the prime of life, you found no need of assistance in this glorious custom, but, having started dow the decline in years and your ranks rapidly thinning out, you are glad to know that the patriotism which fired your breasts is rekindled in the youth of today, and that when the last one of your ranks shall have been called to their last reward you will leave behind you representatives whose greatest pride will be to decorate your mounds and repeat to coming generations your valorous deeds. The objects of our patriotic order are few but all sufficient; chief among which are “to keep green the memories of our fathers and their sacrifices for the maintenance of the union, and to aid the members of the Grand Army of the Republic in their noble work to perpetuate the memory and history of their heroic dead; and the proper observance of Memorial day.
We also feel it our duty to guard with zealous care the name and renown you won on this earthly battlefield, for soon you will join that host beyond and stand with the many brave and heroic dead in the presence of the God of battles where true fame is never injured and true honors never die. Founded on these broad principles in 1881 we have increased and strengthened into an organization worthy of our sires. Who is more able, who has a better right to step into the traces and fill the places so nobly filled by our fathers, and in years to come will will be carrying out similar ceremonies in accordance with your customs as is yearly we were executing commands sent us from the grave. We are here ready and willing to see that justice is meted out to your names even after your lips are sealed and unable to defend your spotless records. Even during the last administration insult was heaped upon your deeds. Gladly we will hail the hour when the secessionists realize and appreciate the cause for which our union soldiers fell and the real issues of the war be settled and accepted by the South as well as the north. But comrades, patience sometimes ceases to be a virtue. Surely when you are asked to divide your laurels so dearly bought will you allow it to be said, as had been, without resentment, that the cause of the south was as worthy as that for which your dead heroes fought? Never. Is it right that “those flags,” trophies of many dearly bought victories, should be released? No. You will not allow yonder dead to be slandered in this manner or kept silent when your own or dead brother’s principles are assailed.
For union as for justice “all place a temple and all seasons summer.”
“When a free thought seeks expression, speak it boldly – speak it all.
When cowards mock the patriot’s fate, who hang his head for shame,
He’s all a knave for half a slave, who slights his country thus,
But a true man, like you, man, will fill your glass with us.
While some are gone there still lives on, the fame of those who died.
All true men, like you, men, remember them with pride.
Then here’s their memory, may it be for us a guiding light,
To cheer our strife for liberty and teach us to unite.
And we will pray that from this clay full many a race may start,
Of true me, like you, men, to act as brave a part.
My friends passing from the duty we owe to the memory of our illustrious dead, and our allegiance to their surviving comrades we must not forget our duties of the hour as practical citizens. We must And when the renowned fame of our fathers shall be jeopardized or the flag of our country be in danger of being trailed in the dust and our country assailed by traitors’ hands, we “the Sons of Veterans, will, by the grace of God, be a band of true men, like you, men, act as brave a part.”
William B. McArthur was born January 28th, 1865 at the close of the Civil War.
William was the Nebraska Department Commander of the Sons of Veterans in 1893.
William died April 28th, 1926 and is buried in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, NE
Visit his online grave at FindAGrave.
His father was Henry Clay McArthur, 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.