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Show Let Us Remember the Martyr Dead It is so easy to forget the dead when the guns are silent. New grass covers a shell-torn field no faster than the story of their sacrifices fades from the memory of the living. Life flows on over them, but the conscience of the nation demands they shall not be forgotten. The camps of the dead are too full of meaning to America for them to he ignored. , For yonder may rost a soldier of the Revolution. Without him the Declaration Dec-laration of Independence might have been so many empty words. There may rest a veteran who marched with Taylor or crossed the plains with Doniphan's men. Without him there might have been fewer stars in the flag. Or here sleeps one who fought at Chaneellorsville or Chickamauga. Be-cause Be-cause of him, the Union remains one, free and indivisible. There are others who knew El Ca-ney Ca-ney or who saw Cervera's ships hunted hunt-ed down at Santiago. Because of them, Cuba is no longer a reproach to the western world. There are graves of those who, after aft-er the Vesle and the Marne, looked no more upon the sun forever. Because of them, a menace against the freedom and peace of the world has gone and the nations can talk of disarmament. Until the day of universal disarming disarm-ing and from generation unto generation gener-ation thereafter the memory of all these should be kept as green as the grass which covers them. They may be counted as martyrs to the beast in humanity, and while others may have failed, they did not fail. They gave what was asked and they are home from the wars. The time may come when warfare will be infrequent and almost unknown. un-known. That time is not yet. Until then mankind must keep and cherish the soldier's faith. When he passes tie must not be forgotten or his sacrifices sac-rifices be ignored. This realization far down in the nation's heart gives to Memorial day its deeper significance. It is more than a day of flowers and bands, of solemn words and holiday crowds. It is a time dedicated to memories of things that have been, of things accomplished and of things endured. en-dured. Philadelphia Ledger. |