Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-06-04

hoh' a hopicr uedtn NO man may ule.
Others, | remember came home to die,
wounded or shattered by disease, and
in few short years were carried to
the grave by those they loved and who
loved them. And still others came
home apparently unhurt by all the
years OF their service. In the course
OF time many of these have sickened
and died, and gone forever out from
among you. A few survive, some OF
them are here before you. They are
but remnant OF the boys who left this
township, over thirty years Ego, to
JOIN that grand army that kept the
wolf from your door; that preserved
your government; that gave you these
blessings which have sweetened your
lives and which will brighten the
future OF those you love and leave be-
hind you.
These men are growing old and
feebler every day. |, who am seldom
with you, can note more clearly than
you who meet them daily, the ravages
that time and care have made upon
them. The vitality, as well as the
bloom of youth is gone, and, in their
stead are gray hairs, deep wrinkles,
bent backs, and stiffened limbs. They
are on the decline of life and will not
be long with you. You of the younger
generation, who have prolited by their
sacrifices and services, ought to be
good and generous to them. | know
that those who are bound to them by
ties of love and blood are proud of
them, proud to know that in the hour
OF the nations need they staked thei r
all in its defense. | know that the rel
atives OF the dead soldiers who went
from Otisco are proud that these gave
their lives for their country and that
in all these years of mourning there
has been a glad satisfaction, that has
tempered the severity of their grief in
the thought that these loved ones of
theirs died in the nations defence.
But all who love our country should
love and revere the memory of these
dead heroes, and respect and cherish
the living.
And let us ell labor that peace may
always stay and war never came to
this fair land of ours. That the house.
hold may rest secure in the delights of
domestic love. That the trumpet call
may not snatch from the wife her hus-
born, the hope of her old age. May
want and sorrow, woe and suffering,
come TO none because OF war; but may
peace, sweet, gentle, gracious peace
reign over and bless our land forever.
Comrades of the Grand Army OF the
Republic, it is not for us to talk idly of
war or to boast and buster what we
would do il war should come. We
have seen and felt its horrors. We
have done our share for our country
upon fields OF battle Our mission
should be one OF peace and goodwill to
all men. We know as well as any one
the sharp and bitter contrast between
war and peace. We ought to know
which to choose for ourselves and our
children.
AS you go forth today to decorate
the graves of your dead comrades and
to honor their memory, may your love
of country be renewed and increased.
And may God grant that the lessons OF
this day may not only be patriotic but
peaceful, and that never again in the
history OF our land shall another gen
Grafton of men be given to sacrifice as
these were.
May the need OF like sacrifice and
suffering never come, but may God
bless and protect our country and the
brave men who defended her.