The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-06-05
Place Blossoms of Love
On Graves of Soldier Dead
MEMORIAL DAY is PROPERLY OBSERVED BY A
PATRIOTIC AND GRATEFUL PEOPLE,
Fitting Ceremonies are Held Mankao THEATRE Eloquent Address
by Rev. w. S. Emery Who Paid High Tribute
to Veterans of the Cval War.

the picture was what the veteran was
| remembering. The ranks of the Grand
today, before the minds eye of thou
sands, are scenes of long marching
columns; tramp; tramp; tramp; tramp;
tramp dusty, tired, hungry, thirsty,
ting cavalry troops with the jangling
of accoutrements; there is a great roar
of laundering artillery; there are long
lines of Entertainments; there are ruined
cities and villages are, desolate: All
this is passing before the minds eye
of the thousands.
OH you veterans, have you memoir
les, and we, because We are our father S
future. We shall not fail. even as
You won.
A whole lot of us folks are going to
have today a sort of choking sensation,
sentation of the Grand Army of the
Republic is left. Once these men We're
strong and could endure. Oh, could
they not endure? How often have l
/ thought of it. his marching thirty
miles in one day and going into battle
at sunset The veteran can do this
no more. But because he has done
this, because the veteran of today was
the soldier in blue at Cold Harbor,
Antietam, Gettysburg, we are rich to-
day through the faithfuness to duty
of the men of siXty-one to siXty-fve;
good, and may it be true of us. while
time shall last as nation, we will
unfurl the stars and stripes, and let it
revel in the breeze as token of our
Grand Army"
l have known a seaman on the New
England coast to leave his home to go
on a voyage that would last several
from an unsuccessful voyage tired, cold
and wet from a winters trip. Silent
and discouraged he would enter his lit
tie home~ But in the sitting room
by the stove neatly folded was a dry
warm pair of thick wooden socks for
him; there was one of the very best
women God ever let live with CHEEKY
his youngest son to ask all sorts of
questions about his trip, and not to be
forgotten was the hot cup of strong
tea. Soon this seaman would begin
ed, and time and time again have I
heard him speak in highest terms of
his home Let any one seek to do harm
to that home and that loving hus-
We all love our homes. The one who
attacks us through our homes, makes
of us most bitter enemy; God bless
every man who is a man. Thus men
love to hear wives and mothers prais-
ed. We praise and we reverence the
women of the days of sixty-one Do
excruciating pain than the husband or
son at the front? The young wife
with the babe had to fight her battles
alone. There is strength is being
shoulder to shoulder with brave men.
l, There is inspiration in martial music.
There is encouragement in seen victor
les. But the women We're alone. God
alone knows how anxiety always tug
ged at their hearts. Our mothers were
their fortitude and brave deeds, with
those of the veteran, should always
be remembered. Men We're men, be
cause true women had taught - them
the meaning of home
There is nothing Gods earth In
the way Of an institution that is not
found fault with. Our eyes are not
pIlnd to certain defects IN army
and navy. and in our National Guard
system. We are not ignorant of some
weaknesses in our industrial and social
ent day patriotism of the American
youth is source of satisfaction In
ninety EIGHT the United States as a
whole sustained the heritage of the
fathers. Sectionalism was Knocked into
a cooked hat. Our ships were not toy
ships our sailors are not imitation
men, and the world knows it. The
personnel. individuality and ability of
our army is marvel to the old world
Read of our troops when in China. Our
flag demands and commands respect
the world over. The American youth
are the fathers own sons. Veterans
and fathers, women of the Relief corps
and mothers; this day is yours. We
have tried to stick to the text: