The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-06-07
WOODMEN MEMORIAL DAY
Address by G. w. Berge, Who Lauds
Peaceful Citizens Who Fought
Battle of Life for Better Things

al Neighbors OF America of the city
of Lincoln held their annual memorial
day services and decorated the graves
of their dead on Sunday the 3rd inst.
The Memorial address was delivered
by Hon. G.. W. Berge and is in part
as follows:
I'VE gather about these graves to-
day to pay tribute to our dead. The
grim messenger has taken away these
our brothers. Their voices have been
hushed in death but the work they
did still lives. 70 such spirits who
helped to make the world better, there
is no death. 1t is true what we call
death has drawn an impenetrable veil
between them and us and we see them
no longer, but like the clear setting
sun their lives are not extinguished
but only no longer seen. The lives
they lived will continue to shine and
light the pathway of generations yet
to come.
About us everywhere lay the dead.
Here are the rich and poor, the old
and young. Here they sleep from
every walk of life Some have fought
better than others, but all have strug-
gled to achieve and what they did
is an inspiration TO us all. In this
same cemetery lies the sacred dust OF
many who fought for the flag. Every
year we gather here and scatter flow
.ers on their graves and recount their
splendid achievements. Every year
we realize more and more the signifi-
cance of what they did. Every year
their graves speak more audibly les
sons of patriotism. They fought thak
the nation might live, and we stand
with bowed heads at their graves on
each recurring decoration day that we
may breathe the spirit of consecra-
ton Of these fallen heroes and dedi-
cate our lives anew to the perpetura-
ton OF the principles for which they
died
But, my friends, peace hath her
victories no less renowned than war;
Mighty revolutions have been wrought
without the sword Great movements
have been inaugurated and carried on,
not by war, which have uplifted hui
mainly and made the world better.
Every year men and women are CIV
ing their lives SO that good may come
to others. The spirit of fraternity
and brotherhood is forging it's way
to the front and we consider today
more than ever before those about us.
The homeless are being housed. The
cries of the poor are heard. The de-
pendent everywhere are giving a help
ing hand. Messengers of mercy fly
everywhere to chambers of sickness
and give comfort and help beside open
graves. This Woodmen organization
has prominent and important part
in this great work.
Our departed upon whose graves
we scatter flowers today struggled and
| fought to give strength and vigor to
these heaven born virtues. They
fought we'll and the world is better
because they lived. And who vii. say
/ that these our brothers sleeping in
| these graves have not wrought {
greater change than did the sword o.
Napoleon upon the map of Europe
The day is rapidly coming when the
plain citizen who does his full dut!
TO his fellow man even in a small wa.
shall be considered a greater here
! than princes and kings who barte
away justice for pomp and pagentry
'It is fitting then that we seattle
flowers upon these graves and recoun
here how much good they did and EN-
ulate their loyalty to all that which
makes a people happy and nation
/ strong.
Yes, in this struggle to help max
the world better these our brother
have fallen, but around their grave
is still swelling the same battle Il