Glimpses of the Past
May 29, 1890
Winfield Scott Post No. 104, Grand Army of the Republic, is making preparations to properly observe Memorial Day tomorrow, May 30. Rev. F.W. Straw is to deliver the memorial speech, in the cemetery if the weather is pleasant, or in the Methodist Episcopal church if it is unpleasant. The Grand Army men want all citizens to join in decoration.
May 21, 1896
The usual memorial services will be observed at the cemetery by the members of the Winfield Scott Post, the Ladies of the Relief Corps and all friends on May 30. At the conclusion of the exercises, all will repair to the Post hall, where the Ladies of the Relief Corps will prepare a genuine old soldier’s picnic, to which all are invited to contribute and partake.
May 30, 1906
Memorial Day was appropriately observed in Whitehall yesterday. The program does not vary much as the years roll around, save perhaps the strewing of garlands over a newly made grave of another soldier called home. The day was an ideal one for the occasion and the number who witnessed the proceedings was larger than on any previous event.
May 30, 1916
The Memorial Day exercises last Tuesday were fine and nothing occurred to mar the occasion. A beautiful day brought out a large crowd, and the forenoon was given over wholly to the solemn ceremonies of decoration and a fine patriotic program at the Opera House.
May 22, 1924
The Otis E. Hutchins American Legion wish to impress upon its members and the community that we do not celebrate Memorial Day, but that it is a day to be observed. We have a patriotic Christmas on the Fourth of July to celebrate the birth of our nation. On Memorial Day, we honor those who died for their country.
May 30, 1936
The Rev. Frederick Glibert of Pleasantville was the speaker at the dedicatory program at the Lincoln Cemetery Memorial day under the auspices of the American Legion. Dr. N.S. Simons, post commander, had charge of the program and Dr. R.L. MacCornack, chaplain, led in prayer at the opening of the service. T. O. Rice gave the roll call of the dead veterans to whom tribute was paid by a volley of shots fired by the firing squad under the command of Lieut. L.S. Ekern. Taps were sounded by T. C. Parr and the program closed with the singing of the national anthem. The high school band played selections. Graves of the veterans were decorated with poppy crosses by the Legion Auxiliary and Girl Scouts. The American Legion, the Auxiliary, school children and others marched from the bandstand to the cemetery.
May 30, 1946
The Whitehall High school band and Hutchins-Stendahl Post, American Legion, will take part in two Memorial Day programs on Thursday, May 30, the first at Whitehall and the second at Pigeon Falls, according to announcement by the committee.
May 31, 1954
Memorial Day will be observed here Monday with a parade to Lincoln Cemetery and a program at the grave of the unknown soldier. Dist. Atty. John Quinn, Arcadia, will be the speaker at the cemetery, with Henry Thoreson, commander of Hutchins-Stendahl American Legion Pos, in charge of the program. Tracy O. Rice will read the list of the war dead. The Rev. A. D. Bowan will give the invocation and benediction. “The Gettysburg Address" by Cleone Hanson, music by the Legion Auxiliary trio and band music will complete the program. The parade, led by the high school band, will start from City Hall at 9:30 a.m. A rifle salute, followed by taps, will conclude the cemetery program.
May 31, 1969
Following the Memorial Day service to be held Saturday at the Pleasantville cemetery, the color guard and rifle squad will decorate the graves of the veterans buried there and at the St. Paul’s and Hale Lutheran cemeteries. The Pleasantville Lions Cluib plans to make this an annual event.