The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-07-15

youth into the temple and had him
take an oath of hale to Rome. And
the pages OF history tell the fidsltty
with which that oath was kept. on
this day in each year our children
should assemble around these graves
and register an oath not of hate,
hut of loyalty to our inststutions, an
oath to preserve the Union of the
State, an oath 10 protect the 1iber-
ties of the people and the Constftu-
ton whcih was conceived in so much
wisdom and patriotism and has been
baptized and re-baptized in the blood
of so many relatives sous.
Today We remember with pride the
matchless service of Grant, Sherman,
Sheridan, and Thomas and their
great armies which shook the earth
with th.ir martial tread, while their
banners darkered the sky. Many OF
these brave men have passed, and
many are passing away. 1t is esti-
mated that mare than $50 of them
are dying between each rising and
setting sun. The survivors and the
widows of those who are dead are
the wards of the Republic and should
be remembered with an unsparing
hand. While SO many have died and
are dying their service 20 this coun-
try can never die. AS long as the Po-
tomac pours tits wa ers in the bay
as long as these firm hills shall
stand. as long as these graves are
watered by the clouds, mantled by
the SHOWS. and gifded by sunshine,
just so long will the name and fame
of these heroes live and their sacri-
fices be unforgotten.
Flowers are the reflection of Gods
smiles Whether they adcrn the
brow of the beautiful, nod their
heads on the hill tops, or nestle in
the valleys, they have a Language
peculiar TO themselves. In this SER
vice they are used to honor the MEM
cries and emphasize the actions OF
the dead soldiers of the Grand Army
of the Republic. Hence, they speak
with myriad tongues. They tell us
of the white wings that shields the
soldiers from the storm. the busting
camp, the weary mAroh, the Ringing
notes of the bugle, the furious charge
the rattle of musketry, the roar of
cannon, the grcans of the wounded.
the pangs of defeat. the shouts of
victory. They tell us of the suffer-
ings of widows and orphans. the
calm quie. of the grave, and the
everlasting love of loyal people.
They tell us of the shattered regi
mems that came marching home
after the conflict had ended and mel
ted back into civil life "as the bill
lows melted into the sea- With een-
der hands'and loving hearts We strew
them above the hallOwed Just of our
heroes. To-day | would weave a gar
land OF roses and forget-me-nots for
The graves Of the Union, and one of
lilies ard myrtle for the graves of
the confederate dead. Upon the lat
, ter would inscribe-
In loving forgetfulness of the ami
mosities of the past We place these
blossoms above those who bravely
/ fought for cause they believe to
be right, and for the Republic as
they thought it was.
While ON the former would in
scribe
In loving remembrance Of those
who fought for cause that was
right and for the nation as il is.
In all NE national Cemeteries are
graves upon whose tablets are in
scribed the sad and pathetcally sig
nlfican, word, ,''Unknown-" Such a
monument IT, erected in this csmstery
over more than 10000 soldiers buried
tn one common grave. For these our
feelings are peculiarly lenier. Theg
left happy home and weeping wives
or mothers, who have never known
their last resting place. Even now
ofttlmes in the stiffness of the night
tears are shed for these noble dead
and many a wife or mother longs
For the touch of a vanish hand
And the sound of voice that j, still
Some years ago in secluded spot
in a Ken ucky cemetery | observed
grave on the headstone Of which
was rudeE carved the words, "A
federal soldier An aged lady was
kneeling by it seemingly eergaged in
silent prayer. When she arose she
placed a wreath of flowers on the
grave and turned 20 depart Attrac-
led by her action and kind, motherly
face, l asked:
Is that the grave of your SON?