The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-05-29
FRANK B. HOWE. Editor and Publisher
Memorial Day

some respects the most significant oil
American holidays, as for years IL
was peculiar To this country and even
ut the present time II Is celebrated In
but lew countries aside from the Unit
cd States. lisa day consecrated to
the memory OF our patriot dead, with
out whom our country would not be
the greatest and grandest nation 10
tue world today.
IL Isl sacred day and yet we do not
oeiieve that u should be made day
OF mourning and funeral thoughts.
we do not believe that those brave
men who died In the service oil the ma
ton or because OF their hardships
there, desire 70 have US, " they have
knowledge OF our doings here, sit 10
sackcloth aud ashes or as In the shad.
ow OF bier TO do them honor
Every little while, especially at this
season OF the year, somebody writes
or speaks 10 depreciation OF the tend
ency 10 make Memorial day day OF
JOY aud mirth' OF sports and festivity,
ana yet, oil The Two we beiieve that Is
preferable TO making the day one OF
melancholy and vain regret.
American soldiers have always been
the Hover oil the country's young and
vigorous manhood. They have gone
TO the front at their country's call,
careless OF self and forgetful OF the
fact that they we're robblng themselves
OF the best years OF their life 10 order
10 give those best years 10 the cause
OF freedom and OF humanity aud 10 the
glory OF the land that, with all Ifs
faults, Is the best that mankind has
yet developed. We are the heirs 10
their estate and we shall best honor
their memory tomorrow who show our
selves best worthy OF the heritage tina,
has come TO Us.
We have yet with us a few OF those
xho eent out 10 the sacriice-who
bled ou the battlefield, Who shook with
fever In the swamps where disease and
danger ever lurked, Who wasted 10 the
pest camps In the intervals OF conflict,
who starved in prison aud froEe IL
winter cold. but who are yet permiiies
70 remain In the land OF the living
All their faults perchance We know
but their sufferings, their hopes, thei
ambitions and the things which the!
gave up for the service OF which VI
are reaping The benefit, We can onl.
estimate and that imperfecily.
Let Us celebrate tomorrow the holi
day In honor OF The patriot dead bu
forget not The patriot living Let u
40 forth 40 sons OF sires who had re-
blood In their veins and would despis
us " We had not In ours. III We cole
brate The day 10 sports and festisit
lie, us do 10 openly, honorably an
periodically In harmony with the Law
OF nature as we'll as The Laws OF III
state and with our back turned o
petty meanness, spite, triekery, 10
temperance and excess. To do this
70 develop our manhood and set
good example TO the boys add girl
who are growing up around US IN
Who In few short years will take o.
place 10 The sphere OF action
hut let US not forget our duties
our pleasures. We are oil tied by N
bonds OF blood and brotherhood ;
the heroic dead aud tho brave soldier
who are yet living. BY the living
service has been prepared In memoir
OF the departed and IL IL the duty ,
the young and old 10 either Join q
assist In making this service worth
OF the great deeds OF yalor and patr