The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-05-17
MEMORIAL DAY.

1t is now fifty years since the first
of the boys in blue responded to the
call of Uncle Abe to put down re-
bellion provoked by the unholy de-
sire of men to hold their felloWmen
in bondage. Fifty years since the land
resounded with the sound OF fife and
drum and the tread of marching batal-
lions. Fifty years since the young
men left their mother, wife or sweet
heart to hurry to the front to save the
stars and stripes.
Firty years. The heads that stood
bare and brown before the flag are
white, the shoulders that bore the
musket are bent, the hands that
grasped the saber tremble with the
weight of years.
The north is filled with the green
mounds beneath which lie our soldier
dead, and throughout the south they
lie in unmarked, unnamed graves.
NS>~-
est, most lovable day OF all the year.
It should be observed reVerently,
tenderly and affectionately by all who
love the cause for which the soldiers
of the union fought and died.
Let it be a day of forgiveness, but
not of .forgetfulness. Let us try tc
forgive the misguided men whose
crime wrought such misery north and
south, but let us not forget that the
union soldiers fought against treason
and rebellion and human slavery and
that the fruits of their victories must
stand if the republic shall be fit to live
Last year we were in Clarinda
on memorial day. We shall never
forget the impressive sight as the
great military band swung down the
street to the solemn strains of that
hymn, Bring Me Closer, Lord, to
Thee" As a guard of honor came
the young soldiers of the National
Guard. The veterans followed; such
a pitiful remnant, some in wheel
chairs, some supported by their fel'
lows: all of them showing the ravages
of time. And after them came the
line of school children. each with a
tiny flag, each learning as he marched
a lesson of patriotism that the years
will not etface. And we thought how
proudly our own little boy would have
carried his flag, how he would have
stood up like soldier, how his eyes
would have sparkled and how his lit
tie heart would have been filled with
pride and love of country.
We should like to see something
such an impressive ceremony in Den
ision this year. 1t should not be placed
entirely upon the old soldiers to carry
out their program. Every home and
business house should be decorated,
every man and woman should take
some part in the exercises, every
school child in the city should march
in the parade. A suitable band
should be employed. The cemetery
should be thronged with people and
in the afternoon the opera house
should be taxed to it's fullest capacity
while in the evening the camp fire
should burn bright and the veterans
should re-tell the stories of the war.
Denison can we'll afford to spend
the money such an observance will
require. 1t will be repaid hundEed
fold in the inspiring lessons it Woult
teach.
Just a few more years and the vet
Grams will be gone. Just few more
years and we can hear the stories OF
the great war no longer. Just few
more years and their graves will be
unless we teach The
lesson of undying love to the little
ones about US.
This year nature has withheld its
sweetest blooms for the coming OF the
sweetest day. Let us use them III
profusion, let every grave be heaped
with flowers. let every heart respond
as quickly and as completely to the
call of affection as did the boys IN
hl,,o IN tho coll pf thpiI country