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Show MEMORIAL DAY, 1918. Today the American people will visit : the cemeteries ' to placo wreaths upon the graves of the heroic dead who lie buried there, while more flowers will be cast into the sea in memory of those who sank beneath the waves in defense of their country. It is a beautiful custom cus-tom and serves a two-fold purpose. It is at once a tribute to the valor of sons of the great republic and a reminder that the cause for which they fought was a holy one and that all succeeding generations arc in duty bound to shed their blood in defense of this fair land and the flag for which our sires dared death on many a bloody battlo field and finally emerged triumphant. Their work has been accomplished and they have gone to their eternal rest, leaving the sweetest and noblest memories behind. be-hind. Our course is not yet finished, and today, as we return from the silent cities of the dead, let us consecrate ourselves anew to the service of God and the United States, whose prorid banner now waves over hundreds of thousands of the noblest and bravest young men of the country who have ""beer, summoned to fight for freedom. This is no day of mourning for heroes of past wars. . Tho men who participated partici-pated in them and now await the glad morning of the resurrection in their narrow beds of clay, fought the good light and passed on, leaving us to de- l fend the heritage for which they shed their blood. Their names are writ in large letters upon the deathless page of history and their fame will live forever. for-ever. So we may draw the veil over the past, gird up our lpins and prepare for the sacrifices that are demanded of us as worthy descendants of men who knew not fear when the. dread trumpet of war sounded and they heard the tread of hurrying feet throughout the length and breadth of the land. So with earnest hearts and unfaltering purpose let us go forth and rove in the sight of heaven that we are' worthier.' worthi-er.' the name American in this supreme hour 'when the liberty of the entire civilized world is at stake and millions of men are engaged in mortal combat, with the issue still far from being de- i cided. We shall ever have tender recollections recollec-tions pf our heroes of former wars, but our hearts must bo of steel while the present conflict rages and our loved ones make the supreme sacrifice in northern France. We can-not give way to our emotions until the cause is won and the freedom of the world is secured se-cured for all time to come. Individually Individu-ally we must bear up under whatever afflictions the. good God sees fit to visit upon us. As a nation we must subordinate every other interest to the winning of the war in order that we may live in security and peace and pass our birthright of fre'edom on to posterity. poster-ity. The tremendous burden is upon us just the same as it was upon the men who followed George Washington or answered the call of Abraham Lincoln. Lin-coln. In the years to come men, women and children will Carry flowers to the churchyards to decorate the graves of soldiers, and the young men will be inspired as they stand beside the last resting places of the heroes of the present war just as we have been shown the path of duty by those to whom we pay tribute today. .lust now our chief hope rests with ;the American youths who are fighting in iFranee, rushing across the seas in transports or training in camps all over the country. We are confident that they will give a good account of themselves and that when the war is over and the survivors return to their homes they will proudly march to the cemeteries on each succeeding Memorial Memo-rial day to honor the memory of their comrades who fall. When their time comes to answer the final summons and leave all earthly enre behind they will pass on, happy in the thought that so long as liberty survives their graves will be visited and their deeds remembered. remem-bered. Can any man accomplish more in the short span of life allotted him? |