Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-06-06

to dust" but Flowers to flowers and
laurels to the laureled
Today, the greatest, the
most humane, the brightest nation so
far known to the world has closed
the workshop and the office that its
people may bear testimony to ma
tion's dead. These boys and you who
remain, not only gave to the nation
four years of your lives, but endured
the torture of the march, the insani-
tation of camp, and the unutterable
loneliness, that this nation might be
free-that its flag might be unsul-
lied-that this people might not be
divided. We now cannot understand
all you suffered, all you endured.
Yet we are your offspring. Your pa
triotic blood runs free in our veins
and should the call of battle to your
sons come, with the same courage
and with the same alacrity they too
will answer the summons and defend
the flag that you saved.
Men of the G. A. R., citizens of
Ashland is it for the good of our
nation; or for the good of the ma
tion's dead; or for the good of these
living heroes of the war of 81 that
this day has been set apart from all
other days? What good can these
flowers do to those that sleep not
in the earth but in the gratitude of
a generous nation? What honor can
these bouquets bring to him who
gave his life that his nation might
live? Not these flowers, not any
poor words of mine, not any eloquent
tribute of a Webster or a Demos-
themes can add one jot or title to
the record these fallen heroes made.
Then the day was not, cannot be set
apart for them. Then was it for you,
men of the G. A. R.-You who made
the full sacrifice and in the provi-
dence of Him who heeds the spar
rows fall was permitted to return
from the fray and be loyal still.
What can this day add to your pres
tige? What can it add to your 10y
atty and devotion? Nay, nay, it can
not be for you.
Was it for you, ladies of the W.
r. C.?-You who stood at the gate
and said goodbye when that husband,
that son or that sweetheart left for
for what?-to do and it may be
to die. Was this day made to purify
the lives of these women who day
by day with brave hands and daring
hearts took up the tasks you had laid
down? For these who assumed the
responsibilities of the home and bore
patiently the weary hours between
the day you marched away and you
return? All, return but many
watchers sat wearily at the we'll and
he for whom she waited came not.
Was this day instituted for such as
these? Nay it cannot bet cannot
be. Then, my friends, for what can
it be? Is it not possible that this
day is for the perpetuation of the
nation itself? | for one think it is
true that the purpose of this day is
the expression of gratitude by all the
people of this American Republic. II
should be solemn day-A day OF
rest from all our labors-A day COM
Elementary to Thanksgiving-Ou
hanksgaving Day we feast our bod
les on the good things of the land
and our spirits on the goodness OF
the Great All Father who has Sc
bountifully cared for us. On glad
Thanksgiving Day we come back tC
the Old home and there with com
panions of days of yore make good
cheer.
But today, Decoration Day, we as
individuals should be serious; as cit
izens of great Republic We should
! for this one day of all the year OBJ.