The Green Forest tribune., 1908-06-05
OUR SLEEPING HEROES
Decoration Day Grafton of
 A. ]. Russell at Berryi1le

ed upon by Mulligan Post of the Grand Army of the Republic to be the mouthpiece for you on this occasion. I am glad to talk to the thin ranks, a remnant as it were, of the mightiest force that was ever marshaled togeth- CT in the history of the world.
 It is a most beautiful and ap- propriate custom you have of an- nually decorating the graves of your fallen comrades. Especially has it been the custom of Mul. ligan Post to decorate the little row of graves in the old cemetery here where lies the dust of your comrades who fell while in the line of duty-where lies the precious dust of those who went to war but never returned-men who had a parting farewell with loved ones at home, but who were never permitted to be welcomed back home like you more fortunate ones were.
 It is said by the sage as we'll as the poet that time makes great changes. I am sure that no one can realize the great changes that time does make so we'll as those who were permitted to live through several decades and thus have a chance to witness the changes by actual observa- tion.
 You old soldiers of the eos lived through a decade of the worlds history in which more and greater changes were made in the same length of time than was ever before witnessed in the history of the world. I know nothing of that decade except what you tell me. Irepresent the span of time which has elapsed since that awful war, having been born a few months after it closed.
 But today it has been 43 years since that war closed, but the love you have for the memory of your old comrades still burns in your breasts, and we have met today to give expression to the noblest feelings that dwell in the human breast, and at the same time drink deep of the fountain of lofty inspiration. With hearts throbbing with intense devotion we have assembled at the shrine of consecrated valor to hold sweet communion with the spirits of martyred heroes.
 There is no more sublime sentiment, none more powerful in it's elevating and ennobling in- fluence than that of hero worship, in the sense of loving admira- tion and deep reverence for the truly great. The advancement and development of mankind are largely attributable to the full homage. which honest hearts have gladly given to those heroic souls who have led and guided men to higher and nobler goals. Throughout all ages hero worship has been the vital element of true manhood. It is the basis of society, the fountain of faith in our fellowmen and most impor- tant factor in all religions. It uplifts the soul, energies and purifies the mind, and thrills the heart with newer and nobler resolutions. Heroes are scintil lations from the divine orb "sparks of fervent heat, as well as radiant light, with power to enkindle the common mass of human mind"
 The one pure light that gleams on all the dark pages of pagan history is that shed by the ever burning fires of sacred love fol God.lik heroism; and then ap- piled to our own dear civilization who has not caught the beauty of
 "Lives of great men all remind us
 We can make our lives sublime, And. departing leave behind us
 Footprints on the sands of time?'
 It is the law of influence that we become like those whom we habitually admire. The spirits of great men diffuse themselves and exert a moulding influence on the lives of those who invoke