The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-02-14
" Why Should / Join the Grand Army
OF the Republic ~

The above question is ably and elo-
quently answered by a leahet sent out
from the headquarters Of the Grand
Army for Oregon. 1t is well worth the
perusal Of every Union soldier outside
the ranks of the Grand Army, We
give it in full:
Dear Sir: The pertinent question you
address to yourself in the caption Of this
note it is the purpose OF this little
leafet to answer. Please read this care
fully, ponder over its suggestions,
and II you decide, as it is hoped you will,
ask some comrade to propose you for
membership in some post of the GA. X.
in your vicinity, and help continue the
struggle for God, country and humanity
to which you, with the flower Of the
young men Of the United States, gave
the full measure Of devotion in the past,
The problem OF life presents itself to
different men in different conditions.
Some men exist solely for themselves; (;
others live for the good they may do.
The best-deserved monuments are built
for the brave, the unselfish, the devoted.
1t is such men whose memories are kept
ever fresh and green in grateful hearts.
Every man who wore the blue should
SO live as to be thought worthy of the
respect and honor of his surviving COM
rades, and every such man who does so
live should be found in the ranks OF the
G. A. r. "Why?" Why? Because the
objects for which the survivors Of the
"war for the Union have associated
themselves in that great organization
are to preserve the memories OF those
days an everything influence for good in
the hearts Of their countrymen; the In
culcating in the minds of the rising gen.
Grafton due appreciation OF the noble
heritage won for them; to show by the
private life and public acts of its mem
bers that patriotism which alone car
preserve the glorious freedom SO dearly
won. "Ah, yes, but my loyalty is un
shaken; / need no organized effort II
keepit alive" True; so is it true o
every good soldier ;but If the old Roman
test OF strength is applied, the fascine il
stronger than the single faggot.
But this is only one OF the objects 0
the G. A. R. 1t appeals to mans self
: ish as well as his charitable nature
} The brave men who dared death at tn,
call OF their country, many Of them bro
l ken in health, suffering from wounds o
/, disease, are now dependent on other
or left to want; the widows or orphan
Y of those who fell in the conflict or who
having survived it have fallen by tn
!. wayside in the march of life, need tn
assistance which only organized CHART
: "a soldiers charity-can give.
r To the purely selfish man the G. A. 4
is not an organization to be avoided I
every recruit the most solemn assuranC
: is given that in the hour Of need ever
= comrade will stand by him and his, n
= matter what his creed or politics. If h
e honorably wore the blue and is of goo
!. repute the organization is pledged to al
him by all honorable means.
> Death is the unrelenting sneer whic
h mocking nature casts at life, but eve
It at the threshold of that bourne frol
l. which no traveller returns, conrad
!, stands beside him whose life is ebbin
away with the assurance that those b
y leaves behind to mourn shall be con
d forted
r. Fraternity, charity, loyalty Woul
|, you realize the full import of these thrt
= words? Join the G. A. R., and they wi
is reveal themselves to you with adde
d strength and beauty. Have you bee
AZ member of post and allowed yourse
to sleep on your arms2 Grown indiffe
% ent and got on the suspended list? Shal
h off the lethargy and for the sake of 80
re Glory" you followed so faithfully, pl
a yourself again in step with your con
= rades. The boys need you and yC
II need again to feel the touch OF elbows
le make your sluggish blood run freely
- That very clever but selfish diploma
Tallyrand, on his deathbed received Il
consolation of the church, only to he
witty French woman present exclain
G. "He dies like man who understan
e. livingl"
d. Don't wait, my friend. The create
~ weakness that besets many an otherwi
- estimable man is procrastination.
ne never is, but always is to be blessed, ,al
ry as you lay this little leaflet down
We throw it away-resolve to unite at on
with some post Of the G. A. R.