The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-05-25
TO SCHOOL CHILDREN.
A Plea for Observance Of Memorial Fn-
day il the Schools.

Editor Of The Times: Your kindness
in the past tempts me to ask once more
for space in The Times for a word to
the boys and girls. not only in the city
schools, but especially in the country
schools, III regard to the exercises on the
Friday preceding Memorial day ] have
Just read the report Of II. W Rood,
patriotic instructor Of G. A. r., depart
ment Of Wisconsin. What be says 81
bis own state can be truthfully said Of
Vermont / wish II was SO ] could tell
one tenth Of the good things be said in
his address; we would be assured that
our school teachers, the men and women
who are doing more than All others IN
the formation Of the character Of our
future citizens except the mothers Of our
land, are doing just the things the old
soldiers most want them to do. They
are inspiring their boys and girls with
love for Old Glory and high ideals
Of citizenship and that there should BE-
close relation Of the Grand Army and
the schools. II they saved the country
half century ago. II Is the children
of today who must maintain it q bali
hundred years hence, and where there
are Old veterans living near your schools
il would be a good plan to send especial
invitations to them TO be your guests
OF honor on Memorial Friday. II they
do not respond readily % your invita-
ton, do not lay Il up against them, as
most 81 the Old war veterans are bashful,
very bashinl, about going to school.
They had rather face a battery Of can.
a s=F tIa
and teachers in school Capture them
He knew BY experience that they would
like it. that they viii rejoice ii your
patriotic exercises and in their hearts
viii bless you,
In the saving Of our union, there were
9a073 enlistments from Vermont OIL
her able bodied men of military age,
every other one shouldered his musket
and went to fight for his country. Many
OF these young soldiers came right from
the schools, thousands Of them less than
Is years OF age, hundreds Of them not
vet To- Many boys Or l3 on IL became
drummers All these young boys were
good soldiers and did brave service
When the war was over and the union
saved. the most Of these soldiers came
NVttE VEL b-AAH III RAA hNANHAA OgN
who marched away under our flag either
We're killed in battle or died Of wounds
or diseases. Thousands Of those who
thus died were bright, keen, jolly fellows,
very much like the high school boys Of
to-day, and they we're good and true and
brave. Many of them are buried where
they fell and sleep in unknown graves
along the sunny slopes and shady vallies
Of the Southland: others were brought
home and rest in quiet country ceme-
teries near where they played before
they went to war.
OF the soldiers who lived through the
dangers and hardships OF war, only a few
are now living, many very old and feeble. |
The time is not far away when with no
little pride men and women will tell that
IN their childhood they used to see sol
diers who took part ia the Civil war,
that they knew them by the little bronze
button they wore on their coats. No;
the day Il not SO very far away when
men aud women will be glad to tell these |
things to the little one The hope Of
our country, the hope Of the Grand |
Army man, is in the children, and we
should try in every earnest, sensible way
open to us, as a part Of this Grand |
Army, to influence them into d genuine
love Of country The Grand Army men
do not want another war; they wish our
boys and girls to grow into such good |
as viii never be guilty Of |
and win not provoke other ma
tions to pick quarrel With u.s." Tho |
address closed with an appeal for patri /
otto Instructors to stand for the enforce
ment Of the law against debasing The
aag for which they fought the emblem /
of law as well as freedom; also to stand |
against The Dissertation Of Memorial day, /
our national Sabbath. The one thing iii I
particular was that they attend the Me-
mortal Friday exercises. Attendance /
upon these exercises does a great deal /
to encourage them IN their respect for
Memorial day,
Patriotic Instructor, Ladies Of
the G. A. r., Circle No. 1.
Barre, VT, May "a. 1909.