"...gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds
above them with choicest flowers of springtime....let us in this solemn
presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among
us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's
widow and orphan." --General John Logan, General Order No. 11, 5 May 1868
"This weekend I am going to do something different. I am going to buy some
carnations each day and go to one of the nearby cemetaries and walk through
the sections for soldiers. When I find a grave that has no flowers, I'll
leave one and say a prayer for the family of that person, who for some reason
could not bring their soldier flowers. I will pray for our country and all
who serve or have served. For their families, who also serve by losing
precious days, weeks and months spent with their loved ones who are off
serving, preserving peace and the freedom we have in this country. I'll pray
for the families who paid the ultimate price, who's loved ones died, or were
taken captive and never returned. I'll pray for anyone who may still be held
in captivity and thinks perhaps they are forgotten. I do NOT forget." Silvia
Mohr