Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-06-02
of Monument by Prof.
w. w. McGilton.

w. w. McGilton.
"Mr. President, members of the Grand
Army of the Republic and other organiza-
tions, Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow
Citizens, all -
In an entirely unexpected way the
pleasant and honorable task falls upon
me, in behalf of the Town of Mid
| dlebury, to receive this noble monument
from its generous giver.
Each year as the calendar brings round
to us this day, the 30th of May, we have
recalled to our minds the dear privi-
lege and sacred duty which are ours to
pay homage to our countrys heroes and
to strew the graves of our Nations dead
with beautiful though perishing flowers.
This grateful task has already been
performed.
"Sweet long and clear DER grassy mound
The trumpet wakes its song today
Each veterans heart leaps at the sound
Thrilled by the memory of its sway"
This particular 30th of May, 1905, diff
fers from all preceding anniversaries in
that we are called upon to offer, not mere
V tribute Of flowers, but to consecrate
a monument of enduring granite to our
soldier heroes. This is red letter day
IN Middlebury, unique event in the
long and interesting and varied history
of this historic town.
Not since our streets echoed to the
tramp, tramp, tramp of the Boys of 81
3s they left homes and fathers and
mothers and wives and sweethearts, not
since those thrilling scenes, which are
still vivid in the memories of some of
you. have our streets teen filled with a
more jubilant, patriotic, devoted throng,
br the air been rent with the acclams
pf more patriotic utterance than today.
Colonel Ilsley, it is granted to but few
men, in the comparatively short period
allotted to human life, to make lasting
impression upon even the generation of
which they happen to form part, to
ay nothing of future generations. 1t
las been your high privilege, by reason
Df wise and far reaching thought, to
conceive and execute an act that COM
nands the gratitude of your fellow citi-
ens today, and lays tribute upon the
grateful memory of generations yet to
be. For in the wide sweep of your
hought with a patriots enthusiasm and
patriots love you have decreed that
he memory of the Nations heroes shall
lot perish from the earth.
By the erection of this monument all
atriots, heroes of the revolution, of the
var of 1912, of the fierce, intestine strug.
le from 1860 to 1865, of the war with
pain, of all future patriots as we shall
eed them, have been recognized by this
acred act of yours.
Situated upon this beautiful and com.
handing eminence, this monument shall
fer mute, but eloquent appeal, to un
orn generations that they emulate the
xample of the Fathers. Looking down
pom the busy market place, as it does
lr merchants shall learn anew that the
ltegrity and honor of our nation form
he only true foundation of commerce
he peaceful citizen of the nor and then
he shall seek on the quiet Sabbath
orning his place of worship, shall, be-
cath the shadow of this granite shaft
new his conservation to God and HON,
nd Native land.
The student on his way to school o.
llege as he passes by this spot shal
ad the record of heroic, God-like actor
nd shall learn of the rewards of nobl,
If sacrifice, not from the hard and diff
pit pages of an obscure textbook, bu
ON the simple language of this fair sym
bl. And when the setting sun shall brnj
close the activities of busy day
|ousand years hence and its slantinj
ys shall gild this monument from bas
one to point of flag staff, those VIII
ak in our places, and the strange
thin the gates. shall behold the efful
Pnce of an immortal idea, an undyin
Atriotism, and the next mornings risin