The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-02
COMMUNICATED.


Editor Mirror-wil you kindly
grant me sufficient space to briefly
call attention TO an unfortunate cir
icumstance I'm connection with Sat
wrday's Memorial day ceremonies.
which, believe, was purely an
Oversight, and yet an omission that
wounded many sensitive natures
where no slight was intended. I
also hope that this communication
will not be considered a complaint.
but rather an earnest desire to cor
rect an unfortunate error. Most
ably eloquently and fittingly, the
speakers OF the day paid glowing
tribute to the remnant of the boys
Iof s"61" and to those whose graves
bore outward evidence of the spirit
lof patriotism which never dies in
the true American breast. 1t is well,
and no man breathes today who can
eulogize too highly those men who
barred their breasts TO the storms OF
that terrific conflict. But there
were other soldiers dead whose
fgravas also bore the tokens OF low
ling esteem of comrades who listened
reverently to the words of the
speakers portraying the deeds OF
1.-THE veterans OF "61.' In Marion
cenStery lie the remains of fifteen
boys whose lives we're sacrificed
| &, tbo Cnonish A ~ arioon ,ro, We
are aware tat as compared with
Those older Veterans. we young fell
lows had but a taste of real war,
and yet that taste was sufficient to
make us appreciate fully what the
older Veterans had gone through,
and here Is the burden OF my COM
munication. Not once during the
exercises was the slightest reference
made to those gallant young fei-
lows of the Spanish-American war
who sacrificed their lives upon the
altar of patriotism. Not one word
was spoken In bshalf of those poor
fellows who sleep peacefully draped
IN the folds of their country's flag.
Not one word of praise was be-
lstowed upon those sons whose moth
ors weep today in sympathy with the
survivlnlg wives of those other war
riors who fell at Gettysburg and
Apppomattox and upon other fields
of bloody strife, and, carnage. In
Porto Rico we buried twenty-one of
,our boys of the 4th Ohio and on the
lhomeward Journey three more were
lowered into the depths of old
Ocean. Fifteen sleep peacefully in
beautiful Marion cemetery. have
"A vivid recollection of scenes in
(which anxious mothers were at the
whaa'f, when we disembarked after
our return, to meet sons they had
Isent forth TO fight and who there
LEARNED for the first time that tn ose
lsons would never again return in
the flesh. AS | listened to the elo-
lquent speakers Saturday listened
Valnly for some one to tell OF those
lads who lyave up their lives in
"9S' and pictures arose before me,
I"hu Niioh an was uOHt ana over and
mot one word had been spoken for
our boys, 1t put choke In my
throat and an ache in my heart
that can only be explained by the
Spanish-AmGrican veterans who ex-
penenced in a mild form, some of
1.-The horrors which the Veterans %
'6l' knew to the full. | mention
these things in the kindliest spirit
and do not seek word OF praise
for the living-we ars all here and
enjoying life but for the boys who
fell in skirmish or died as the re-
suits OF disease contracted in the
service OF their country. Irrespect-
fully ask a kind thought and gentle
word, then next year. an honor and
lliving tribute Is paid to the men
who rushed to the support of the
United States flag and the honor of
the country when the occasion de-
manded It.
Thanhinlg you for your courtesy
and again expressing the belief that
the commission was purely acciden-
tai, | am
Very Truly Yours,
LLOYD w. THOMAS.