River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-05-25
MEMORIAL DAY AGAIN
Plea for Proper Observance of This
and the Other Holidays That
Make for Patriotism.

It is to be deplored that SO many OF
of our national anniversaries become
mere holidays on which so many sports
are entered into that the chief signlfl-
canoe of the day is in danger of being
largely overlooked. And because or
this parents will do well to see that
the meaning of such a holiday as Me-
mortal day is impressed upon the
minds of the children while they are
still quite young. And nothing will
serve to deepen an abiding sense OF
what Memorial day means more than
to take the lad, and the lass also, and
let them witness the ceremonies at
some large cemetery and at the sol
diers' monument in the park or square
and then, perhaps, best OF all, have
them hear the Grafton in the after
noon by some eloquent speaker, who
will send ineffaceably home the deep
lesson of what the day commentaries.
Years ago. in the late sixties, when
Declaration day." as it was then
styled, was first inaugurated, and when
those whose hair is now turning gray
were young, it was privilege and
charm to repair to the cemetery and
see the services that were carried on
with military precision, and to hear
the grafton delivered then at the grave
side of some hero of prominence who
had fallen during the war; or had rem
dered special service during the sad
conflict In later years the grafton has
in many places been given in hall,
perhaps because of the fatigue or the
infirmities of many who wish to
hear it.
The same soldierly precision no
doubt marks the ceremony to-day; the
Grafton may seem quite as eloquent de-
livered in the public hall. But how
changed, alas! is the aspect of the
comrades who march now, dressed in
the simple uniform of the Grand Army
OF the Republic. When the small de-
tachment of the post acting as decora-
tors hear the command Haiti Uncov-
er! Decorated" it is no longer a few
stalwart, middle-aged men who step
forward to do honor to the dead; no,
they are men decidedly elderly, if not
old in years, slow Of tread, and with
the sedate faces and thoughtful mien
cf rapidly aging men. The "Sons of
T Veterans" even are beginning to look
like men who have reached and passed
the high noon of life's brief day.
We are even optimistic as regards
the patriotism of the sons of this
grand republic. Born and bred into
bone and sinew of most true men is
love of country, and not only willing
ness, but a desire to defend ones flag
and the soil whereon one was born.
And the very atmosphere of freedom
which turks in every fold of the Stars
and Stripes makes a liberty-loving
man of the boy who sees Old Glory
streaming out from the flagpole of the
schoolyard, sees it over the engine
house, the public buildings and high
aloft over the vessels lying in the har-
Dor.
We cannot afford to pass one Of our
sacred holidays lightly by. They are
part of the educational forces bearing
upon the training of our youth. both
lads and maidens; and we would re-
peat the injunction that parents and
instructors see to it that the particular
lessons attaching to these holidays are
distinctly understood. We like to hear
of the exercises preceding Washing
tons birthday and Memorial day ex-
ercises have become a recognized part
bearing upon the proceedings of the
day itself. This is as it should be.
And the little child of the foreigner
who sits beside the child of American
parents? All! the lesson falls alike
into the ear of each The schoolyard
flag will soon look the same to each,
and we believe alls well with the per-
ceptions of each child. and, believing
that, we are fam to believe that the
dear old republic is safe.
Let the schools continue to spread
the protecting folds of Old Glory above
the youthful students of the country;
let such telling anniversaries as Me-
mortal day continue to be observed De-
forehand in the echoolroom. and there
will be no danger that the brave deeds
of our soldiers of the crucial sixties
will be forgotten even when the last
war veteran shall have passed to the
eternal camping grounds
'sDc you know what it means
This haunssng of flags,
All in tatters and rags;
This marching and singing,
These bells a-riaging?
'Our hearts Nuat hold
A regret unto.I.
AS we think OF those who fells
But their blood on whichever s.oe they
fought
Remade the nation. and progress brought"
Christian Work