Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1905-06-01
and South. Let US remember

and South. Let US remember
The gentle flowers know
Neither side in arms;
They draw no lines:
They give their fragrance freely
to
The Blue and Gray.
Asleep beneath the Mother soil,
Made ricner by their blood,
And watered by the tears OF
North and South.
Oh. South and North,
Made one by common grief,
Made new by sacrifice.
The brave defense of right.
Beyond there is no Blue or Gray.
But clothed in white.
The serried ranks that fought
Shall fight no more"
The wearers OF both Blue and Gray
were Americans, The heroism of
each belongs to American history
is the pride and boast of the Ameri-
can people.
In all ages and In all countries the
sepulchres OF the distinguished dead
have 'been cherished and guarded as
the most precious treasures of the
State and history informs US that
long before the Christian era, in
ancient Greece and Rome, a day in
each year was set apart when the cit-
zens repaired TO their graves and
covered them over with flowers
sweet emblem Of Innocence and purity
fit offering from love and gratitude
TO patriotism and valOr. In our
country it has become since our Civil
| observed upon this day OF the year,
especially by all Posts of the Grand
| Army OF the Republic 1t is true
| that no rite however beautiful can
reach the sightless eyes of those to
whom we pay reverence.
1t matters not to them.
No sound can reach, nor cere-
mony,
Affect the voiceless dead.
On Fames eternal camping
ground
Their silent tents are spread.
And Glory guards with solemn
| round,
| The bivouac of the dead.
| No rumor of the foes advance
| Now swells upon the wind,
| No troubled thought at midnight
| haunts
| OF loved ones left behind
No vision Of the morrow's strife
The warriors dream alarms;
| No braying horn or screaming fife
| At dawn shall call to arms.
Their shiyered swords are rec
with rust,
Their plumed heads are bowed
TIE naughty banner trailed il
dust
Is now their martial shroud;
And plenteous funeral tears have
4 washed
The rcd stains from each brow
And the proud forms by battl'
gashed
| Are free from anguish now.
| The neigning troop, the flashing
blade.
Tne bugle's stirring blast,
The charge, the dreadful cannon
ade.
The din and shout are passed:
Nor wars wild note, nor glory
peal
Shall thrill with fierce delight
Those breasts that never NOR,
may feel
The rapture Of the fight"
1t is lesson, however, to the liv
Ing teaching those who brave war
stern alarms and die for the publ,
veal should not and shall not be for
gotten. II stimulates and cultivate,
ia our minds sentiments of tender
ness. and affection which make u,
better men and women and BETTE
citizens. 1t instills into our youth {
patriotic spirit, which is the onl,
sure foundation upon which to built
republic, and without which it can
not stand How appropriate and i'm
portant then that upon this day con
secrated to the memory Of our dead
We turn aside from our busy cares
in observance of this beautiful Gus
tom and bedeck with flowers tn,
graves of those we IGNORED and Low
ed--of those who in the hour of dan
ger bravely faced the leaden hail
storm of battle and the equally fata
ravages of disease, enricning tn.
pages OF American history with feats
of glory. and securing to US united
country in whicn freedom makes hel
stronghold and civilization achieves
her grandest triumphs
Then throw over them earth's frag
rant blossoms:
Cover them over with beautiful flow
ers:
Deck them with garlands, those bro
| theirs of ours.
Lying so silent by night and by day
Sleeping the years of their manhood
| away;
| Years they had rarLaj IN, tho iny.,