Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-06-01

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or her faith in its triumph; her soul
a temple of fortitude, and her heart
a fountain of prayer; thus lived
the American woman through the try
| ing days of war, and l voice the
thought of every manly American
heart when / say, "God Bless the
splendid, noble, American woman. y
She gave to our flag the brightness of
it's stars and preserves the purity of
| its white stripes. She is entitled TO
participate in every patriotic occasion.
and in the solemn sadness of this days
ceremonies, let her part in the nations
tragedy be not forgotten. None, only
those whom country's call has torn
from faithful wife, or loving sweet
/ heart, or tender mother. realizes all
the sorrow and wretchedness compre-
hended in that parting, beyond which
rises, to the one vision Of desolate
home, and to the other that Of SOL
dier's unmarked grave.
NV friends, am glad of this oppor
tunity of joining with you in these
patriotic exercises. In the stirring
DAYS of 1861 to 1865, the city of De-
corah was ever aflame with the senti-
ment of preservation OF the union,
and she became a rallying point for
the eager volunteer from far and near.
The war spirit was always rampant
upon her streets. There was not dis
loyal sod or turf within her boundaries
or a disloyal brick in her walls Her
sons were the first in the field, and
the list of dead and wounded show
they were always found where the
bullets flew the thickest. From her
roster I could call roll of honored
names that city ten times her size
might we'll pe proud of. That the
spirit of 81 still abides in this COM
munity, is manifested in every feature
of the days observance. See the spon-
taneous outpouring of all the people.
See the faithful group of old soldiers
still clustering about Old Glory
wherever it is planted; the sons Of
veterans organized to perpetuate the
memory and emulate the virtues of
their honored sires also, the Woman S
Relief Corps, that worthy society OF
faithful women, organized and main
tanned to support and encourage the
Grand Army of the Republic.
Memorial Day at DEBORAH possesses
a special interest, personal to me. In
one of your cemeteries where / hope
to visit today, lies the body of COM
rade of mine, who in 1898 proved his
loyalty to his adopted country by TAX
ing oath as a citizen and enlisting as
a soldier ON the same day and who
gave up his life in a southern land far
distant from the scenes OF his child
hoods home in Norway.
Should bent of pleasure or call OF
business ever bring you to that thriv-
ing city of historic interest, Savannah,
Georgia, where ended Sherman S
march to the sea, and occasion lead
you to its southern suburbs. you there
will find great embellishments of earth
that were the Notifications raised by
futile labor to keep out Sherman S
victorious columns. Just beyond the
gate of Ronaventure Cemetery, OH the
crust of one of those earth works,
stands a noble southern forest tree, its
massive trunk a foot in thickness and
erect as vessels mast for hundred
feet. Its branches have compass to
shelter four score men from the noon
day SUM- From a tiny seed, drifting
in the breeze, that tree has grown and
developed IN it's towering strength
and symetrical beauty since the last
rebel gun was dismounted from those
Notifications. Many times during the
! Spanish war have 1 seen resting in
boon companionship, enjoying its cool
ing shade, the soldiers of Iowa and the
soldiers of Virginia the soldiers OF
Illinois and the soldiers of tho Caro-
linas; soldiers from the woods OF
Maine and from the plains OF Texas,
all wearing the same uniform, serving
in the same army and loyal to the
same flag. 1t seemed to me that the
symbolism of that tree was beautiful
and striking. The Oak of Peace stands
majestic and serene upon the abandoned
ramparts of civil warfare, spreading
!; it's graceful branches to shelter the
, sons of the North Land and the sons
of the South Land, united forever
more in the harmony of common
wealth and the brotherhood of com
mon cause-one flag and one country
no north, no South, put in every
portion of our domain undivided loyal.
ty to tbeiUnited States Of America.
Blest with victory and peace, may
the Heaven rescued land
Praise the power that has made and
preserved us a nation"
After the address the audience stand
ing sang America, Rev. j. o. Haugen
pronounced the benediction. and the
services were over. The citizens oil
DEBORAH had again fittingly remem-
bered the heroic deeds of the nation &
heroes in the time of the nation peril.
Immediately after the exercises al
the opera house the old soldiers,
Womans Relief Corps and Sons OF
Veterans enjoyed dinner at the Post
Rooms given by the ladies of the Re-
lief Corps, at the conclusion Ut which
detachment of Sons of Veterans
visited the different cemeteries of the
city and decorated the graves of the
departed soldiers.