Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-05-28
MEMORIAL
DAY
Not E~ntirely One Of Mourning

XA8
regarded as a day Of mourning.
~ Symbols Of grief used in on
nectiOn with the memorial exercises
all save the draping Of ~lags-secm
out Of place.
The annual celebration Of the fame.
the sacrifices and the glory Of the sol.
dicrs Of tho uniOn is a beautiful Gus
tom. but the day was never meant
for n time set apart for lamcntation.
The nation pays a tribute ~ flow.
crs. OF o n and words of praise and
appreciation to It's glorious dead. and
II Is In a spirit Of tender pride and
e%xaltation that the holiday should bn
celebrated. II has been n mistake
To cover the day with crepe.
Certainly there must be sad hcart7
on this day, but II Memorial day t.
made what II should he there win
be brought to the widow and the IA
thcrloss consolation and strength.
Comfort and wholesome thought arc
suggested by the tribute Of n whole
country tn those who pledged their
lives for the land Of their love In its
time OF need.
Let US not put on mourning gar.
monts aud make n gloomy day ont "
the beautiful festival of hOnoring tho
glorious dead.
"for how can man die better than facing
fearful odds
For III" nslIcg of his fathers, and the al
tars Of lis gods?"
n yn,, ,ru,,t a., u,s ttr rfnI ipu,ty,
ton Of the day, go early In the nor
ing to any Of the Gods acres" which
are ever around tho dwellings Of ~"
living. There, In the dcwy quiet.
where there Is no sound but ~"
songs OF birds and the sirhing or the
wind in the trees, You will look upon
the gray" where loving hands haze
set the little flags which tell that Il
soldier sleeps his last sleep below
Then, as Tn" morning freshness
wlthcrs under the sun, you So" the
forms Of men and women ana chill
dr"n bending over the places where
their loved ones rest. and you will b"
reminded that love ontliv"s death. The
comfort of God TO those who
set flowers Ov"r long made graves.
You viii, at last, hear the sound VI
music, and 80 will be announced tho
arrival Of III" Grand Army and other
veterans on their duty Of the day.
TIL" old men march to a central plac"
and with bowed heads listen TO IL
prayer and then sing II hymn. TIL"
voice Of n q perhaps, rises In an ora.
tion upon the heroes Of patriotism.
Then the little pr~oc"Ssion starts upon
It's journey and visits every soldiers
gray" laying flowers upon the grass
so lately sprung from the sleep nf
winter.
Yes. your eyes will b" fun Of tears.
but they VIII not be the tears which
bum; not tears Of misery and grief,
but those tears Of universal, uplifting
emotion which make us all feel the
bonds of human brotherhood. Reno
waiting tears. that relieve IN" heart
and make II seem less Of an enigma.
All day long loving hands BRING
flowers AZ offerings TO the memory Of
the unscliish brave: on and On tili
the Slin sets tircleSH feet walk by the
decorated graves. pauNing now and
then while a stroller rCals a tribut"
craven upon som" stone, or notes the
offering Of blossoms on some other
wise unmarked mound.
And when evening falls the level
rays Of the sun lie. Ike Il bnn"dlctlun,
| upon the places whcr" the love of
human hearts has hcalcd ny the treas.
urcs of May, IN tribute 10 the sons
and tho martyrs Of freedom.
The 3O,h VI May is u day OF g4o.
rious, inspiring remembrance, one
when, II tears arc shed, they ar" only
tears which sanctify. without burden
Ing. the heart.