Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-01-13
Oar Dent TO ihe unlnn soldiers.

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Oar Debt to the Union Soldiers.
GBy Mrs. Josop Scott at O. A. II. Banquet
Recently Rt a reunion Of an Ohio rcgi-
nsent saw marching at the end OF the
line company Of young men and boys,
ranging from Ia TO 20 years Of aSc. Upon
inquirina what society they rerresented, |
was told that they were Sous II Veterans.
ready for the service VI our eUaatry wl,eu-
ever called to GO.
II seemed absurd that it,use youngrtrrA
should have such confidence In their sb,l-
ity for mi'ilary service. Ii a shower Of
rain had fallen and there had tcen 40
shelter for them, without doubt through
fear ot tieir inking cold, 6rps would have
leen made, hot teas given li,em nui II
they would have subailled to the author
ity Of their mothers, each ose veuld have
becn decorated with badge Of retl d mel
about his ti,Coat-
l forgot that the stripping David van
quished the gan, Goliah. forgot tha,
just such tender boys aa they left Perrys-
burg and thoasands Of other towns to
battle with the giant, Treason. LEFT com
Portable homes, fond mothers, kind sisterR
(and some other girls, toy thinking and
caring little OF the privation and suffering
they must endure ia connection with war
fare. Our school boys and farmers soma
who were not considered able TO do iuii
hands work in the harvest field, enlisted
aud in less than one month confronted the
enemy on their own soil. How manly
aud brave they looked ia their blue uni
forms. All faults were forgotten and de-
rire for their success IN righteous cause
made each one brother. The oaly re-
quest ever heard tkem make was "write
often and don't forget u.s." Forget the
soldier boys or grow Indifferent to them?
That seemed impossible
hope there will never be a necessity
for the Sons of Veterans becoming 80 ldiers
in reality, and that their labors may ccu-
sist chiefly in Keeping alive the memory OF
their fathera. wish that every old SOL
dier would wear the blue, and never
dislsonor it by word or act, that 30 often
goes un-noticed in other men. II is theirs,
and they have surely earned the right to
wear 1t. 1t might not he entirely agreea.
BILE to those persons Of tender sensibilities
or sore conscienoes, who desire that \ por-
tion of our country's history should be
ignored, who say "the war is past and we
should not revive those dreadful times even
IN thought. If we put aside those dark
days as unfit subjects for conversation, We
also cast aside the memory Of thoee insep,
erably connected with them.
The way TO prevent war into remember
what war was and IL. After the news Of q
terrible battle-Shilob, Chick amauga
Stone River, Franklin, any of them-col-
umn after column of dead, wounded and
missing WAS published. As soon as the
paper came, anxious, pale, trembling
women gathered at our home, and sat quie
as death while read the list to them.
hardly understood that they were blinded
by emotion ami could not see for them
selves. Young as / was, when came t.
a name that had ever heard, it seemed
cruel in ME to speak IL, and can nevel
forget the day read the name of neigh
boris son as missing. Only missing! there
was hope yet. So We told her, but W,
learned afterward that he was prisone
at Libby and Andersonyille. II beg n
ones pardon for mentioning those prisons
they were facls.) One who remembers Il,
agony and horror of war times will nc
readily consent to another,
Heroes are not all of the past, nor IA
distant. They are here, and We are una
BILE to pay the debt we owe to them fc
preserving our country free and undivide,
Because Of their sacrifices and trials the
are heroes, and honor and remembrance
due them, although the hero il no less
man, subject TO human frail,ies, and "
should not demand that they be angels ell
we express our gratitude. Whenever III
} old soldiers meet and honor those outsit
of their own special society with an invj
tation, it is our duty to show that we ha,
not yet forgotten them. and take an intel
eat in everything pertaining to their haI
piness and welfare.
"oh. well may we name them In story,
And we'll may we shrine them In song
| Who gathered to aid in the struggle,
To hurl back oppression and wrong.
r While life and remembrance yet linger,
, Still freshly thoir laurels will twine:
! Their deeds we will proudly remember.
And brightly their glory shall shine"