The record-union., 1896-05-30
Board Of Education Mr.. Jones' ad-
dress was as follows:

SI6F0S OF uQe SOlU1eIS WHO were ka1leQ
in what we call the late war, and those
who have died since, may be decorated
with flowers. 1t was thought better to
have all THE graves decorated on one
day, SO the Both day Of May is the day
set apart for that purpose and made a
legal holiday in many of the States.
Tomorrow, all over the country, the
people WILL with tender hands and
loving hearts, lay flowers on many
graves that, but for Memorial Day,
would have long since been forgotten.
Now shall tell you a little about how
We came to have Memorial Day, and,
as you grow older and are promoted to
the grammar school and study history,
you can find it out for yourselves.
About thirty-two or thirty-three years
ago we had great war in this coun-
try. 1t was called the War of the Re-
bellion. A great many thousands of
soldiers We're killed, and nearly all Of
them were buried long way from
home and friends. In most cases they
We're buried on the battlefield where
they were killed, so, after the war, the
Government laid out large and beauti-
full cemeteries and had the soldiers re-
buried in them. So, on account Of
these soldiers being buried so far away
from home, and not having anyone to
care for their graves, the Government
took the matter in hand and set apart
one day of the year sacred to the mem
cry of those who died fighting their
country's battles.
Now that 1 have told you about Me-
mortal Day, / ann going to say some
thing about patriotism.
Most of you boys and girls know
what patriotism means. You know it
means to love your country and to
honor and revere your country's flag.
But it means more than that. 1t means
that, when you grow to be men, you
will be willing to sacrifice everything
you hold dear; that, should your coun-
try need your service, you will be will
ing to give up home, riches, and even
your life if necessary. rather than have
the flag you hold so dear hauled down.
George Washington-every school
boy knows that name and as you grow
older you will find that after seven
long years Washington, with only a
poor clad and half-fed army, whipped
one of THE strongest nations in the
world. Now 1 want every boy and girl
that does not know to find out which
nation he whipped. What do you
suppose Washington and the other pat
riots said TO this big nation they had
whipped? They said: Now pick
yourselves up and get out of here. We
Americans are able to take care of our
selves" That was the birthday Of this
nation, and from that day to this we
have been getting stronger and stronger
Until to-day we can talk saucily to the
whole world, and the best of 1t is that
the whole world agrees with us.
There is a little girl over there look
ing at me as though she would like to
know where the girls come in. Well,
girls, you can be just as patriotic as the
boys. l will tell you what the women
did during the late war. Some Of them
went right on to the field Of battle,
gave the dying and wounded soldiers
water bound up their POUNDS and did
all they could to comfort them during
the short time they had to live. Others,
who could not go on the field, made lint
out of old linen to bind on the soldiers
wounds. Some made jellies. jams, pre-
serves and other good things to eat, and
sent them to the hospitals, where the sick
and wounded lay. Others sent books
and newspapers for the wounded to
read, and when a regiment Of soldiers
would for any reason come into town
or city they would be at the depot to
cheer them and the flag, and then the
soldier boys would feel we'll paid for
the hardships they had endured. So
you see, girls, women can show their
patriotism in many ways.
Now, boys and girls, we must say a
few words about the fag-your flag
the flag that has never been beaten.
Don't you think you are fortunate,
boys and girls, to be born in a country
with such a flag? The flag Of coun-
try that will protect you no matter
where you are. When you are men and
women, no matter to what country you
so, you will see in some of the large
cities, proudly floating in the air, the
same flag that floats over this school
house On every sea and ocean great
ships built of iron, called warships, are
going from place to place to protect all
that have a right to its protection. Now
I think you would like to know how we
got that flag You remember that
1!efore that we had that nations flag.
but when we sent them home we sent
their flag with them, and then we got
one of our own. 1t mad only thirteen
stars at first, but now it has forty-five,
with plenty of room left for more. So
YOU see that It cost many lives to get
our flag In 1872 we had to show this
same nation that we were able to de-
fend our flag, and in 1S4I we had to
give another nation TO understand by
whipping them that wherever we
; PLANTED our flag II stayed. In 1861,
when men. blind with the heat of pas
siol.. thought il would be better to have
two flags than one, those who loved the
old flag said" One flag and no more" "
So. after four years of cruel war Che
late war 1 spoke of, the others also
said no. Now, children, that is how
there came to be G. A. r. They were
I .he ones who said no first.
/ And aren't you glad that they did and
! that they said 1t so often and so loud,
! that there has never been a question of
one flag or two since, and let us hope
that there never will be? Now, chill
dren, it will be only'a short time before
the men who stood aud stand ready to
protect "Old Glory" Chat is what the
| G. A r calls the flag) will not be here.
but the flag will, and then IT will be
your duty to protect it. The men of to-
! day feel that they leave it in good hands
feel that when the boy of to-day
grows up to be a man, he will do as the
men of the past have done. Love and
/ honor "Old Glory" and see that none
/ but friendly hands haul 1t down.
/ 70 Columbia, the gem of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free,
/ The shrine of each patriots devotion
aHf l. aarra To thaal.t