Excerpt from The West Point Centennial: Historic Oration, Delivered at the Decoration of the Graves of the Immortal Heroes Who Lie in the National Cemetery at That Memorable Post, on Decoration Day, May 30, 1878
Early in the season, "George Washington Camp No. 1, United States War Veterans," a new organization, composed of veterans of all our wars, considered the propriety of visiting West Point and decorating the graves of the officers and soldiers who are buried in the National Cemetery at that Post - a spot hitherto neglected. To apprise the Commandant of the Post and obtain the proper permission, the following letter was addressed to Major-General Schofield, commanding:
219 East Thirty-sixth Street, New York, March 18, 1878.
Major-General John M. Schofield, commanding United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.:
Sir - The Society of United Stales War Veterans has, by resolution, delegated to me the pleasing duty of soliciting from you permission to decorate with flowers, on Decoration Day, May 30th, the graves of Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott and other gallant soldiers whose remains are now deposited in the National Cemetery at West Point. By way of explanation I would respectfully state, sir, that the society of which I have the honor to be president is composed entirely of those who have been regularly mustered into service and honorably discharged during some one of the wars in which the government of the United States has been engaged, treason against the government being the only bar to membership. In the main, sir, our ranks are filled by veterans of the Mexican War and the late rebellion. In the past, on Decoration Day, as members of other societies, we have taken part in the solemn services observed in the immediate vicinity of this metropolis.
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