The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-05-31
MANKATo FREE Press.
MEMORIAL DAY.

sit is rather for US to be here dedicated to the
great task remaining before US, that from those
honored dead we take increased devotion Is
that cause for which they gave the last full
measure of devotion that we here highly resolve
that these dead shall not have died in vain
that this nation, under God, shall have new
birth of freedom, and that government OF the
people, by the people and for the people, shall
not perish from the earth. ''Liacoh''s Gettysburg
address.
Again Memorial Day has come, and
all over this nation there has silently
fallen upon the graves OF the country's
dead that beautiful tribute OF re-
membrance "a garland OF MOWERS.
Through the streets of thousands OF
cities, villages and hamlets have
marched with tottering footsteps the
remnant of the rapidly disappearing
hosts of brave men who battled for
the unions cause; who risked their
Lives that the government which our
forefathers founded might be pre-
served: that the flag which we dearly
love might still continue to float in
the breeZes over an undivided land
of the free" in fact as well as in
name.
To these battle-scarred heroes it is
a day most sacred, and to the millions
who follow them it should be held
lust as sacred. The nation which for
gets it's soldier dead, who fought not
for the promotion of selfish ambition,
but for the preservation OF human
liberty, freely offering up their life's
blood, to mingle with the tears OF
widows, sweethearts and orphaned
children, to cement anew nation
torn by strife, discord and treason,-a
nation which forgets such heroes, and
fails to pay tribute to their memory,
must needs be fast approaching that
point where it is ready to crumble to
the dust.
With each returning year we should
recall the great Lincoln's words, and
from these "honored dead" take in
creased devotion to the nation they
died to preserve. AS we view today
the tremendous development which
the republic has made; the splendid
opportunities which it has offered TO
every effort which man might put
forth: the influences which it
can send forth to work for
better upon the world, we can
measure better the great sacrifice
which these men made, when they
surrendered life and all the hopes and
possibilities which that life might
hold in store for them; aye, that which
was dearer to them than life itself
the loved ones at home-we become
more thoroughly impressed with the
value of the privileges and liberties,
thus baptised in fire and blood, which
these martyred heroes bequeathed to
us.
And so it is but right that we should
honor these sleeping heroes, who made
possible these opportunities and the
development which has followed.
And in so honoring them let US kindle
anew the fires of patriotism in the
hearts of the youth, that through the
years of the future they may guard
with jealous care the glorious
heritage which has been preserved
for them at such a fearful price.
And while we thus cherish their
memory, and kindle new feeling of
respect for the war-scarred veterans
who yet remain in our midst, let us
not forget in the words of wartime
poet, that
"The wife who girds her husbands sword,
Mid little ones who weep or wonder,
And bravely speaks the cheering word,
What though her heart be rent asunder,
Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear
The bolts of death around him rattle,
Hath shed as sacred blood as eer
= Was poured upon the field of battle
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