The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1908-06-12
A PASSING TRIBUTE
TO OLD VETERANS
Delivered by Will H. Tunnard
at Opera House, WINFIELD, >
on Memorial Day, June
3rd, 1908.

This race OF Southern WARRIORS
whose achievements in battle have
gained for them Worldwide
fame for courage, bravery, en-
durance and patriotism. have
not less brilliant record amid the
scenes of peace when the sun OF
disaster went down on the cause
they so heroically defended with
their blood and their treasure.
Homeless, ragged, starved, they
returned amid the desolation OF
war. as proud. seIf-reliant and
defiant as the day each first shout
dered his gun and pledged his
service to his country and Its
defense.
What he has achieved is written
all over this Southland, and IN
the North AS well. With the same
spirit that marked his devotion to
his home and native land, he pro-
ceeded to build up the waste
places. The principles for which
he battled have been indicated.
HIS erstwhile foes have recognized
and do Lonor to his valor and his
daring, and accord him full mead
of praise.
The Veteran who stood in the
van during all that trying strug-
gle is recognized by his compat-
riots as .a hero and a comrade,
worthy of recognition and aid. if
he needs it.
They are found among the hon.
Ored men of the land, prominent
IN every profession. business pur-
suit and occupation.
Be it said to his credit, that he
is not a tramp or loafer. He is
too proud to beg, unless it be
from his comrades, whose purses
are always open to his needs. He
Is too honest to steal, for he
knows that the homes and. purses
of his more fortunate comrades are
open 10 him with warm welcome.
He can never become too poor
or forlorn or shipwrecked to fail
of the sympathy and ready hand
grasp of those who stood with him
amid the battles hurting storm.
The close hand clasps with
which they greet each other is the
token of O brotherhood that is
warm and sincere drought life
and will 60 down with him into
the shadows of the grave. 1t
matters not how poor he is. how
ragged, or what his habits or mis-
fortunes in life, he knows m his
innermost soul, that his comrades
are his friends, and will divide
shelter, food and raimeut with
him, as in those days of starva-
ton, want and raggedness he stood
defiant and undlsmayed in front
of a powerful, we.l-equipped,
we'll fed and splendidly armed
foe.
The United Confederate Veter-
an organization is without apeer
in the world. 1t is a companion
ship of love and respect. There
is not saIaried officer in the gen.
eral organization or single camp |
of that general whole. They tax
themselves for all their needs. |
They bury their dead, when nee
essary. They recognize no dis
tinction on account of religious
faith or political opinion. The
one paramount requisite is that
he was y soldier. tried and true,
without a single blot, blur or stain
on the fair escutcheon of his faith
full performance of duty from the
beginning of the struggle to the
period of his parole, as overpow-
cred, never conquered.
lie never has any apologies to
make FOR what he did. nor excuses
to offer, or regrets to utter for
having defended his cause, and
exhibited to the world the inner
ent patriotism and courage of the
highest type of the free American
citizen-the purest strain of
Anglo Saxon blood-worthy des-