Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-05-26
MEMORIAL DAY AGAIN
Plea for Proper Observance Of This
and the Other Holidays That
Make for Patriotism.


Make for Patriotism.
1t 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 signih-
canoe of the day Is in danger of being |
largely overlooked. And because OF
this parents will do we'll to see that
the meaning of such 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, nave
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 1t 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 oration has
in many places been given in hail,
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 Halt! Uncov'
er! Decorated" 1t is no longer a few
stalwart, middle-aged men who ster
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 mier
of rapidly aging men. The "Sons oi
Veterans even are beginning to lool
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 thi!
grand republic. Born and bred int
bone and sinew of most true men Il
love of country, and not only willing
ness, but a desire to defend ones flai
and the soil whereon one was born
And the very atmosphere of freedom
which turks in every fold of the Star
and Stripes makes a liberty-lovin
7 man of the boy who sees Old Glor
= streaming out from the fagpole of tn
t schoolyard, sees it over the engin
house, the public buildings and hig
aloft over the vessels lying in the hal
t Dor.
We cannot afford to pass one of on
sacred holidays lightly by. They. ar
!, part of the educational forces bearin
| upon Inc IIdlulu6 VI Jul yOulu DOl
lads and maidens; and we would rC
peat the injunction that parents an
o Instructors see to 1t that the particula
I lessons attaching to these holidays al
4 distinctly understood. We like to hei
of the exercises preceding Washing
f" TONS birthday and Memorial day e,
Z, ercises have become recognized pa
e bearing upon the proceedings of IL
I day itself. This is as 1t should
l. And the little child of the foreign'
who sta beside the child of America
q. parents? All! the lesson falls ALL
into the ear of each. The schoolyal
l. flag will soon look the same to eac
~ and we believe all's we'll with the pc
d ceptions of each child, and, believiI
"a that, we are fain to believe that Il
" dear old republic is safe.
~ Let the schools continue to spreI
n the protecting folds of Old Glory abo
the youthful students of the countr
let such telling anniversaries as m
mortal day continue to be observed |