Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-15
SOLDIERS
MONUMENT DEDICATED.
CONTINUED from Page One.)


rour dreadful years of bloody war
| Which made mems hearts fore'er t'abhor
| he sight and sound of shot and shell:
| COR truly, truly War is HE'LL
Four dreadful years. and then came
| OUR heroes knew the sweet release
From weary march and bloody fray;
rom seeing comrades waste away
| m beds of sickness racked. and sore
| With longing to see friends once more;
| From battlefield and prison pen.
| From camp to thoughts of home again.
| Their ranks We're thinned; loved forms
| laid low
Dear comrades felled by willy foe;
| All left to sleep meath far-off skies
Till the last day shall see them rise.
| But oh, what welcome waited those
Nho reached home safe. what shouts
IF heartfelt gladness. faces wore
Glad smiles of joy mat nevermore
Should father, husband. brother know
Again Wars suffering and woe;
For Victory perched upon our banners
Causing each heart to sing hosannas.
Peace reigned once more throughout the
land,
Hearts cried. Omitted here we stand!,'
Dear Comrades, Brothers, Sisters, Friends
You meet today; your presence lends
To this occasion all il needs
To make il worthy valorOuS deeds.
GU come to honor those who fell
Long, long ago. in vale and dell,
Or languished months from foul disease
knowing no moments rest or ease,
Till Death in mercy came again
And kindly brought surcease from pain
You hold in reverence those who came.
Safe through the conflict; who won fame
Because of service nobly rendered;
Who in their countryS need swift
rendered
All that they had to give of life
And limb through all the madd ming
strife.
Who lived long years in peace to enjoy
LIES just rewards without alloy.
Then raise this granite shaft in air
Draped with our country's flag so fair:
On ITS smooth sides write TN names of
those
who've laid them down in sweet repose
Forever done with care and toll
TO know no more Wars grim turmoil.
Deck it with wreaths and bright hued
flowers.
Spend many reminiscent hours
In thinking DER how much YOU owe
10 these your heroes: may there grow
In every heart as the years so by
increasing love and loyalty
To this the country of your birth;
This greatest land in all the earth:
This land where all may seek the best
That knows no North, South. East nor
West.
All times are fit for this deed so grand
For which you loyal people stand
Who saved our country from its foes.
As you this monument unveil,
May IL to all e'r tell the tale
That Treason's hand shall pa!sied fall;
That the stars and Stripes wave over all
One. Undivided Union stands
And lifts TO Heaven its outstretched
hands,
And prays that never may there be
Another war on land or sea.
Such the petition, Lord, we pray
On this proud Dedication Day.
Portland. Maine. Sept. 10, l9ll
AT the conclusion of the poem, the |
inc reformed and marched into the I
rown han to listen tn the remainder
If the exercises.
l.. T. Carleton was in charge and
the speaker. Hon. Herbert
VI. Heath of Augusta.
Mr.. Heath's address was listened to
With closest interest by crowd which
lacked the hall to the doors. Hell
poke feelingly and eloquently of the
lark days of war time. of the causes
i the war and of the effects, so far
eaching that they have touched nearly I
very country in the universe.
There would be no gathering of this
ort.'' he said, mo monument point
ng to Heaven, if the Civil war haa
,een like any other war in history
lad been struggle for conquest, Il '
ectional struggle only to see ii the
Sorth should dominate the South, or
political struggle, where only MEM
'ers of one party fought against an
ther. none of these things the speak
r claimed would have been worthy :
4 q shaft of stone looking upward to
iod'
Not even the striking of the shackies
rom the black race, lie claimed, had
cen the greatest cause Of the war, o
ut The great principle Of the rule or
he common people. the majority ruie
4 all the people And he traced back b
o gettysburg, where the sons OF