The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-06-01


by Miss Mia Stapf of the Mankato high
school. This is the handsome silk flag
that was given to Department President
Mrs. W. y. Plymat and Department
Secretary Mrs NJ. d. Fritz at the last de
partment convention to be presented to
the Mankato high school The presen-
tation was delayed until this occasion
as being the most appropriate time.
Mrs. Fritz explained the circumstances
of the Gift in few well chosen words
and confided the care of the flag with all
the memories clustered about it to the
high school, and Miss Stapf responded
for the high school in very nice little
address.
Judge William F. Hughes was then
introduced and gave an eloquent tribute
to patriotism and the old soldiers, which
was well received
Address of Judge Hughes.
Judge William f. Hughes spoke as
follows:
1t is recognized by all civilized peoples
that there is nothing so conducive to IL
well-balanced citizenship a. to occas
ionaliy come to full pause, lay aside
our ordinary personal affairs and give
our whole attention to matters of gen
eral concern. The thoughts that come
to us on these occasions are uplifting
and are sure to do us good.
The services i'll which we are engaged
today are unique in the history of the
world and peculiar to our own country
and our own time. All countries have
observed holidays in memory or persons
noted for certain acts performed and all
countries observe holidays i'll commem
Grafton of certain deeds OF events. But
at no other time and in no other country
have the people unanimously set apart
IL day for the purpose of doing honor
to the memories of all the soldiers and
sailors of a great war. This is de
voted as ii perpetual memorial day to
keep in remembrance every man who
FASTENED to the assistance of his cOun-
try when the very foundation of its
civil existence was trembling, its skies
were lowering and darkness was gather
inc. In the celebration of this day we
make no comparisons. We do not dis
tinouish between man and man. All are
heroes All are kept in the same mem
DRY. In doing this we emphasize the inn
portance of the individual. No one is
small. Everyone is great.
Down through all the centuries of rec
orded history it had been the custom to
defy and worship certain so called great
captains. At the close of ii war all the hon
or and glory would be given to some
king or some few leaders. Little was
said about the private soldier. As far
as any mention of individuals is made,
the battles in which Alexander the
Great, Scipio Hannibal. Caesar and Ma
poleon were engaged might have been
single combats like the one in which
David slew Goliath. 1t was simply not.
ed that so many were slain. Only pass
ing attention was given to the wounded.
For generation after great war every
highway and every by way had its Grip
pied soldiers who eked out a precariOus
living OH the charity doled out to them
by the passerby 1t remained for this
government. founded in the wisdom of
the revolutionary fathers, to organize
the first complete system for caring for
the disabled soldiers of all ranks. 1t
remained for us to recognize the ser
vices of all without distinction and to
embody that recognition in this vOlun-
tary homage rendered by grateful re-
public to those so richly deserving.
While the great body of the people
has always observed this day with all
the solemnity and sacredness demand
ed bv the occasion, by placing the sweet
est blossoms of Natures handiwOrk up
on the last resting places of those whose
eyes have closed and whose hands have
been folded in long repose, by the sing
ing of patriotic songs, by Installing into
the minds of the youth those principles