Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-30
Veterans of Two Wars Con-
duct Impressive Exercises.
MARCH TO THE CEMETERY
Wilson Post and Astor Command
Unite for Services.
EDWIN H. HoLBR0oK PREsIDEs
Rabbi Abram Simon Delivers Ora
tion-Says Day Is Annual
Feast of Gratitude.

Feast of Gratitude.
Second only to the exercises at Airing
ton were the impressive and patriotic
services this morning I'm the picturesque
and spacious grounds that surround the
United States Soldiers Home. In charge
of the arrangements at the haven of rest
for the former units of Uncle Sans
matchless regular army was Col. Edwin
II. Holbrook. senior vice commander of
the Department of the Potomac. G. A. r..
and several efficient committees. The
semhlage was a large one. and the graves
in the cemetery We're decorated with
flowers and miniature American flags
The parade formed in front of the
Scott building at $50 o'clock, and the line
of march was taken up to the speakers
stand in the following order: United
States Soldiers Home Band; committees
and officers Soldiers Home: orator; chap
lain: poet and reader; the Gaelic Chorus;
Henry Wilson Post. No. Il, G. A. r.: J.
Grams; veterans of the home: invited
guests and visitors.
Following the sounding of Assembly"
by veteran trumpeter of the Soldiers
direction of Prof. John s. NJ. thinner
man, played an appropriate air. closing
with Nearer My God, to Thee" the
audience joining in the singing. The
sembly was then called to order by Senior
Vice Commander Holbrook.
Makes Opening Remarks.
"At this place in the program" he said,
IAN opportunity is given to the senior vice
department commander, who is exofficio
chairman of the committee of arrange
ments. TO make an address. l shall not
avail myself of the opportunity on this
occasion as we have, In addition to Prof.
Zimmerman and his band. number of
ladies and gentlemen who are to enter
tain you with addresses and songs. and
as we are somewhat limited as to time. l
will not detain you other than to thank
you in the name of my comrades. whose
remains lie peacefully sleeping in this
sacred place. and in the name of my four
hundred thousand comrades who sleep in
neighborhood graveyards, beneath the
waves of the restless sea and in other ma
tional cemeteries, and in unknown graves
for your presence here today. l thank
you for having put aside the usual cares
and labor of the day. for arraying your
selves in fine raiment. and especially in
trying. with your children. to unite with
us in laying Gods choicest offerings on
the graves of heroes and in greeting the
loyal and true men who have given the
best years of their lives to the service of
their country and now find shelter. COM
fort and home in the beautiful place pre-
pared by grateful country. Again l
thank you.
Annual Feast Of Gratitude.
DR.. Abram Simon was introduced and in
the course of his address said:
Each annual cycle testifies increasingly
to the beauty. the wisdom and the neces-
sity OF Decoration day. The American
with his hot pursuit after material things
shows his native fdealism by consecrating
one day to the memory of her sainted
army that garrisons the cemeteries. Dec
Grafton day is the annual feast of graft
tude. il is the Sabbath of the soul The
manly living have dedicated it to the noble
dead. 1t is our pledge of renewal. our an
nual rebirth and baptism in the holy
blood o. the martyrs sold ers and sailors
through whom our blessings have been
saved. enriched and. we hope, perpetuated ed.
Here upon this sacred soil. where every
grave decorated with flag and flower
symboliZes freedom and faith, is the mos.
favored place. and now Is the most OPP
perfume time for consideration of what
our soldiers did, of what we owe their
memory. and o. the everlasting duty, of
future generations
After reviewing the ideals of various
nations in which they have concentrated
their pride. DIR. Simon asked:
20 Columbia. what is thy pride and
glory? Is ii mere knowledge. mere in
crease Of information? knowledge thou
hast. Thy schools dot the land as the
stars giorify the heavens above. Intell-
gence is widespread The press foods the
country with literature. Yet education
is not the be-all and 'end-ali. Igno-
rance is lamentable enough. but it is the
ignorance o. the moral law that is so
dangerous. Not iliterac ybut immortality
saps the vitals of a country. 1t is not
the ignorant immigrant. but the corrupt
Die native. who is the undesirable citizen.
rs strength thy ideal: Strength thou
hast. Mighty army and powerful navy.
with brave and stout hearts. whose hero
ism has long since Won tine respect of the
world make our force formidable. Yet
10 glory in ones power leads readily to AN
abuse of it. To boast of mere power is
a temptation to test Of international
prowess. is To walk with chip on ones
shoulder. eSsing some one To dare 10
throw it of. To find national pride only
in strength viii lead 10 an unnecessary.
unjustifiabie and defiant increase of mill
tarlsm. There are times when the lingo
OF peace Is as deteStahle as the lingo oil
war. a nation has a moral duty of pre-
pareduesS and protection. and each dec
AIDE must reinterpret the amount and de
gree of preparation and protection neceS-
sar>. II America las great military and
naval p:o"ess. il is given to spread the
blessings of freedom. 10 put down inJus-
tice. 10 unfuri the flag of life. liberty and
nc pursuit Of happiness Our strength
ihuSi be to Sanctify womanhood ana 10
Is thy pride in mere wealth? Wealth
is thine in superb abundance. This land
SloWs with the fires Of industry. Whirr o:
WAGES and din OF machinery ar. thy mu-
Sic. Shall We be ashamed Of il? Shall We
| hide our faces hecauSa our men have har-
! messed the forces OF nature, and made the
HShthlAS and the wind their WlillnS
slaves Shall We be ashamed because our
sun-klSsed soil shines witt! brilliant gold
| ana precious ore" Shall We be ashamed
! because we have made it possible Tor
| thousands to live easier. happier. com
peter lives? Yet our natural ana our
dftlhclal resources cannot conStltut" the
sum total Of our wealth. the highest of
! our ideals. Corn. cotton and coal repre-
sent the physical. not the spiritual neces-
/ sites Of Americanism.
/ Not any OF these thre" is our national
! IDEAL Each is but 4 power. magnificent IN
lisfi Tor carrying out our mission or
/ democracy among the nations. our lde al
must be The apostleship of the highest
ana rleane>t freedom. Not what we nave
not what we know. not what we arr. but
What We do for the betterment of man.
| This i our glory. In this spirit Decora-
tioh day became an annual inspiration
Other Numbers of Program.
! The remainder of the program was then
Z