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Show IN GRATEFUL MEMORY Mil!1! I T jT"" 1 q) uenerai view of the Amphitheater at Arlington, Where Thousands Gather to Pay Their Respects to the Nation's Heroic Oead. One of the patriotic date marks of j the greatest of republics was Saturday, May 15, 1920. It witnessed the rededi-cation rededi-cation at Washington of the Memorial amphitheater, erected at Arlington National Na-tional cemetery, where rest 20,000 soldiers sol-diers and sailors of the United States who responded to the call of their country when the question arose if any government so founded could sustain Itself against enemies that might arise. Overlooking the capital and the Potomac Poto-mac the amphitheater, which has cost over $800,000, Is a commanding feature fea-ture in Itself and will he perpetually a noble reminder to every true American. Ameri-can. There rest, In equal honor, famous fa-mous generals and admirals, along with many who died in battle and rest now under a slab marked simply "Unknown," "Un-known," but what they did and what they typify Is Immortal. A soldier or sailor may repose there with his wife beside him, but there is not wealth enough In the world to gain entrance for one who has not jn some of our wars enlisted under the national flag. The veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic conducted the dedicatory exercises and it must, according to the years of mankind, be one of the last occasions that can find them assembled for a general patriotic observance. No nation has ever bad a more Inspiring In-spiring memorial structure. f : Ing a passing thought of gratitude to the heroic dead, and turn to the paramount para-mount business of looking after No. 1? Let somebody else struggle for the betterment of the government. If these be the thoughts of any citizen, citi-zen, it is high time that he should ask himself if he is really an American. Is he not merely posing as an- American and obtaining the benefits, when he is, in fact, a slacker and a fugitive from honor? Even in the midst of the grossest selfish materialism there is a quality which might be called the Instinct of preparedness. The citizen who confines con-fines all his idealism to promoting his own interest is still exercising a virtue In spite of himself the virtue of thrifty provision for the future. Place him upon the meanest and most despicable despi-cable plane, and yet he will exercise some degree of this Instinctive virtue. Thus It is a certainty that he can exercise It in behalf of his country, no matter what his morals or character may be. Is it not the primary duty of a man to assist his country to survive? He Is merely saving himself when he helps to save his country. Despite recent Inventions, there is ho satisfactory substitute for a nation. The stronger and safer the nation, the more fortunate for-tunate the citizen. No foreigner will make a citizen's nation strong or keep it so. He must do it himself, with or without the foreigner's consent. The United States is stronger than ever in Its marvelous history, thanks to the glorious dead, and little thanks to the living. If it is to remain strong, in proportion to other nations and in accordance with the aspirations of the Americans who gave their lives for it, the living must do their share of the work in their day and generation. No slackers!' The dead Americans, Immortals Im-mortals though they be, cannot attend to the present and the future. They can give their example, but It will not save America unless the living take the example. Next to the never-falling fire that every American should keep burning in his secret heart, signifying to him alone that he Is dedicated when necessary neces-sary to give himself to his country, It seems that his most Important duty is to take pains to see that the country coun-try is made secure against possible destruction. His first duty, In short, Is to make sure of himself ; his next to make sure of his country. Is the navy well and strong? If not, it is the duty of every citizen to Insist that if be made capable of defending the Stars and Stripes against any enemy, en-emy, anywhere In the world. Is the army well organized and able to prepare on short notice, on any scale necessary, to defeat any enemy that might assail the United States? If not, it Is the duty of every citizen to insist that the nation be properly defended. The heroes of America did not fight to the death to preserve the Stars and Stripes for a few hours, days, weeks, months or years. These fighting patriots pa-triots went to eternity believing that the Stars and Stripes would fly from their fall until they should rise again. There Is conclusive proof that Almighty Al-mighty God is willing that this nation shall endure for all time, if Americans will devote themselves to making It pure and strong. But the number of slackers must not be too large, Washington Wash-ington Post. |