Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-05-28
MEMORIAL
DAY
Not Entirely One of Mourning


M EMORIAL DAY should not be
wi regarded as a day of mourning.
AZ Symbols of grief used in con
nection with the memorial exercises
AL save the draping of fiags-seem
out of place.
The annual celebration of the fame,
the sacrifices and the glory OF the sol
diers OF the union is beautiful GUS
tom, but the day was never meant
for time set apart for lamentation.
The nation pays tribute of flow
ers, of song and words OF praise and
appreciation TO its glorious dead, and
il is in a spirit of tender pride and
eNaltation that the holiday should be
celebrated. 1t has been mistake
to cover the day with crepe.
Certainly there must be sad hearts
on this day. but IL Memorial day is
made what il should be there will
be brought TO the widow and the IA
therless consolation and strength.
Comfort and wholesome thought are
suggested by the tribute of a whole
country 10 those who pledged their
lives for the land OF their love in its
time of need
Let us not put on mourning, gar
ments and make a gloomy day out OF
the beautiful festival of honoring the
glorious dead.
For how can man die better than facing
fearful odds
For the ashes OF his fathers, and the al
tars OF his gods?"
III you want to get the al inspira-
ton of the day, go early in the morn
ing TO any of the Gods acres" which
are ever around the dwellings of the
living. There. in the dewy quiet,
where there is no sound but the
songs OF birds and the signing OF the
wind in the trees, you will look upon
the graves where loving hands have
set the little flags which tell that a
soldier sleeps his last sleep below.
Then, as the morning freshness
withers under the sun, you see the
forms of men and women and chill
dren bending over the places where
their loved ones rest and you will be
comfort of God comes To those who
set flowers over long-made graves.
You will. at last, hear the sound of
music, and so will be announced the
arrival of the Grand Army and other
veterans on their duty Of the day.
The old men march to central place
and with bowed heads listen TO
prayer aud then sing hymn. The
voice OF one, perhaps, rises in an ora
tion upon the heroes of patriotism.
Then the little procession starts upon
its journey and visits every soldiers
grave, laying flowers upon the grass
so lately sprung from the sleep Of
winter.
Yes. your eyes will be full OF tears.
but they will not be the tears which
burn; 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 the heart
and make ii seem less OF an enigma.
All day long loving hands bring
flowers as offerings TO the memory of
the unselfish brave; on and on till
the sun sets tireless feet walk by the
decorated graves, pausing now and
then while stroller reads a tribute
craven upon some stone, or notes the
offering OF blossoms on some other
wise unmarked mound.
And when evening falls the level
rays of the sun lie. like q benediction,
upon the places where the love OF
human hearts has heaped up the treas
ures Of May, in tribute to the sons
and the martyrs of freedom.
The 30th of May lis day of glo-
rious, inspiring remembrance. one
when. II tears are shed. they are only
tears which sanctify, without burden
ing. the heart.