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New Castle, IN's 1st Decoration Day Parade

May 30, 1871

      Today, what we now call 'Memorial Day,' was once celebrated as 'Decoration Day' at one time. It was a day set aside each May for the purpose of strewing flowers or otherwise decorating the graves and remembering and honoring those brave comrades who had sacrificed their lives for the defense of the country during the late rebellion (Civil War) and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.
     The 30th day of May 1868, Decoration Day was authorized by General Order #11 that was issued by John A. Logan, Commander and Chief of the Grand Army of The Republic.
     Today (2003) we celebrate this day on the last Monday of May after the United States Congress decided we needed to have a longer weekend for some reason (National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363). Perhaps the most profound tribute of all was made on the first national memorial observance in May, 1868, by then - General James A. Garfield when he said: "They summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and virtue."
     This year in New Castle, Indiana we will be celebrating the 132nd Decoration Day by having our annual Memorial Day parade for the 132nd time.
     The first such parade was held on May 30, 1871. The following information was taken from the June 1st issues of the New Castle Courier and the New Castle Republican.
     In accordance with the call made through the "Courier," a meeting was held at the office of General Gross, on Friday evening last, to make arrangements for the decoration of the Soldier's graves in the cemetery. General Gross was appointed Chairman, and Captain Robert B. Carr, Secretary. On motion the following Committee of Arrangements was appointed: General Wm. Gross, Colonel John S. Hoover, Lieutenant William Elliot, Eugene H. Bundy and Captains Shelley, Shively and Wilcox. The following committees were also appointed:

Music: Robert M. Nixon, Elias H. Bundy and Henry L. Powell

History of Service and Location of Grave of Soldiers: William H. Watkins, Robert M. Nixon and Harry H. Hoover

Flowers and Decoration of Graves: Lieut. William Elliot, John Thornburg, Mrs. Elias H. Bundy, Mrs. David W. Kinsey, Mrs. Lizzie Burke, Mrs. James B. Martindale, Miss Anna Hornley, Miss Mollie Zimmerman and Miss Kate Hoover.

     On motion it was agreed that a procession should be formed at the Courthouse Square, the Program of which will be published as soon as arranged.
     Colonel John S. Hoover was chosen Marshall of the day, and Captain Robert. B. Carr commander of the honorably discharged veterans who are to lead the procession.
     The Martial Band has volunteered to furnish martial music for the occasion.
     The business houses of the city are requested to close their doors between the hours of 2:00 and 4:00 p. m.
     People in the vicinity of New Castle, and especially discharged soldiers, are requested to take part in the ceremonies.
New Castle Republican
-June 1, 1871-
     At New Castle the procession started from the public square at the appointed time, and was of respectable size, though not so large as might have been had the management of affairs been different. Quite a number who participated, did so under a sort of protest.
     Gen. Gross was orator of the day, and master of the ceremonies. Col. Hoover, Marshall, Captains Carr and Moor commanded the squad of soldiers in the procession, and Col. Ed Johnson read a poem on the occasion entitled the Blue and the Gray."
     The citizens of Knightstown quite generally celebrated Decoration Day. The procession is reported as being over a mile long, and the ceremonies and exercises to have been impressive and satisfactory conducted.
     For reasons not learned, the proposed decoration of graves at Greensboro did not come off. Decoration day at Lewisville was celebrated with the usual ceremony.
     "Over the years the meaning of Memorial Day has faded more and more from the public consciousness. From a solemn day of mourning, of remembrance, and of honor to our departed loved ones, it has degenerated into a weekend of Bar B Q's and beaches where only token nods toward our honored dead is given, if at all. Too many people don't even know what the day stands for. But let's not blame them. The blame belongs to Congress who made the day into a three-day weekend in with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363), to ensure a three days weekend for Federal holidays. The blame belongs to those of us who know what the true meaning is but fail to observe the day, or at best give a weak token nod toward it (because we don't want to appear "odd" or "different" or a "party-pooper"?) The blame belongs to those of us who know the true meaning but do not politely teach others it, pass it down to our children, or make it a family tradition. And the blame belongs to those of us who know and honor the day, but do not support any societal efforts to return "Memorial" back to Memorial Day."

Help Restore the Traditional Day of Observance of Memorial Day

2003 UEB
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