["HONORS FOR SOLDIER DEAD." Anoka Union 27 May. 1920: Print.]
Memorial Day Fittingly Observed by Veterans and Citizens of Anoka = Blue and Olive Drab =
New Veterans Form Guard of Honor For Men Who Fought in War of Rebellion.
Memorial Day was observed in Anoka with fitting ceremonies and Anoka’s citizens turned out in numbers to do honor to the soldier dead.
In the morning the J.S. Cady Post No. 2, G.A.R. and the Mary Livermore Circle, Ladies of the G.A.R. decorated the graves of soldiers in the Champlin cemetery and upon returning strewed flowers upon the waters of the Mississippi in honor of the soldiers and sailors who are buried at sea.
In the afternoon the ceremonies opened with a Memorial Day procession under the direction of Lt. Col. Albert Pratt and Lt. Fritz Peterson. The members of the J.S.Cady Post, Mary A. Livermore Circle were conveyed to and from Oakwood cemetery and Edward B. Cutter Post of The American Legion formed a Guard of Honor for them. Pupils of the public schools, members of the city commission and the fire department also participated.
Following the ceremonies at the cemetery a service was held at the Armory which was attended by as many people as the building could hold. County Attorney William A. Blanchard was orator of the day and delivered a patriotic address of stirring appeal. Emanuel Bittner recited Lincoln’s Gettysburg address.
One of the unusual events of the day was presentation of French war memorials. These are memorial documents given by the French government for presentation to the next of kin for every soldier who died in France during the recent war. Maj. Arthur A. Caswell made the presentation in a few words suitable for the solemnity of the occasion.
