"Memorial Day" Exercises

In accordance with the announcements previously made in these columns, "Memorial Day" was fittingly observed in Kingstree last Monday. The program had been very carefully prepared, and those who took part in the exercises had been thoroughly trained by those in authority, and all of the proceedings were carried out in as smooth a way as possible. The column of veterans presented quite an inspiring and impressive scene, and the young uniformed soldiers added much to the procession.
After the exercises in the court house, the procession, composed of veterans, the Lake City Light Dragoons, the column of boys and girls, and the citizens marched to the strains of band music to the Baptist cemetery where the soldiers graves were decorated with flowers and evergreens. The military company fired a salute over the graves, and willing and loving hands then placed flowers upon the mounds beneath which rest the remains of brave men who went to the front ready to sacrifice their lives for the honor of their country.
The following was the program of the exercises which took place in the court house: called to order by Col. James McCutchen; prayer by Col. J.E. Dunlop; song, "National Hymn" by pupils of the Kingstree Academy; recitiation, "Conquered Banner," Miss Barbara Jacobs; Oration, Mr. S.M. Wolfe; Recitiation, "In Memorium," Miss Mildred McCabe; Song, "Red, White and Blue," pupils of the Kingstree Academy; declamation, "The Spirit of '61 and '96,' Mr. Edwin Hirsch; recitation, "Ode to a Confederate Bill," Miss Florrie Jacobs; declamation, "Our Confederacy," Mr. Louis Gilland; song, "Sewanee River," Misses Mildred McCabe, Barbara Jacobs, Dell Kellahan, Alma Kelly and Marie Thorne; Oration, Col. J.E. Dunlop; song, "Dixie," pupils of the Academy.
All of the young people who took part are scholars at the Kingstree Academy, and the manner in which they acted their parts showed that they had received excellent training at the hands of their instructors. Everyone acquitted himself or herself so admirably that it would be difficult to say which one deserves special mention. To speak of any on of them particularly would mean to do an injustice to the others, so we withhold individual comment from all.

The County Record, May 13, 1897