| Show DAY OF SENTIMENT ceremonies in cemeteries school of patriotism for both old and young on every national anniversary ex capt memorial day we deal with things of life rather than of death on independence day we celebrate the nation a birth on washington and lin coin days the birth anniversaries of its immortal patriots on thanksgiving day the fullness and blessings of na dional prosperity on memorial day alone we give pause tor tears on this hallowed anniversary we weave chaplets for the nation s glorious dead and how glorious they are these myriad sleeping soldiers and how the glory of their deeds magnifies with the years we the living add not at all to their immortality in history with our flow ers our prayers and our tears but we do add something of priceless value to our own lives by the customs of memorial day we turn these sacred hours into a symphony of patriotism the benediction of to day s flower strewn mounds is for the living it Is an oasis in the storms of life a level ing occasion when the finer sentiments creep into the souls of american men and women and the nation s cemeteries are to day the greatest school of patriotism for old and young that we have for true patriotism counts not death it through death the nation shall find life and health no nation is in peril that has such a memorial day as we have there are those who place sordid gain above sentiment and care for our prosperity only tor individual profit but the heart of real america beats true in every crisis no foe open or secret can successfully measure swords with the national conscience and this 1 the real lesson of me monal day so long as we honor our soldier dead we will honor our coun try memorial day gives perspective the tottering grand army veteran and the lisping boy with cap and drum and flag are the visible ex of a common unity of paerl otisa passionless the remnants of former contending armies unite in a common sorrow and a common hope th blue and gray are not less hallowed because time Is blending them the season of natures renewal Is fittingly the season when this and future generations will yearly deco rate the graves of american soldiers and though none of these sleepers hears the bugle call each is taken again to the national heart by the fresh flowers in his windowless pal ace of rest |
