The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-31
MANY ATTEND THE MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES
Excellent Addresses Delivered by Rev. a. l..
Whitaker, r. p. Kimbie and C. p. SearIe--
Post Commander Wilson Missed at Exercises
--Nearly Thousand Children in Parade.

fragments. To such men Decoration
Day means a great deal. Such men
depend not upon any speaker to di-
rect their thoughts, but by reason
of intimate association of recollec-
tions and dire experience, are trans
ported in mind to those momentous
struggles, when Admiral and sea-
men alike and together fought
nightly.
Since the dawn of civilization,
history is replete with acts of hero
ism upon the seas. And nowhere
have bravery, fortitude, and unset
fish devotion to national obligation,
found brighter example of heroism;
nor has any country furnished more
patriotic Admirals and seamen, than
adorn the pages of American his
tory. 1t is not necessary or desir-
able that we stop here to specialize.
Time will not permit. Suffice it to
say, since the formation of our gov
ernment, our naval institutions, as
well as school of actual experience,
have furnished and always will fur
nish to us, full quota of exper-
fenced men of the sea-men not
only to rule the ships as Admirals,
but seamen at the wheel, the engine
and the guns-all masters of their
particular work.
1t may be asked what service is
the scattering of flowers upon the
waters. To those lying in watery
graves, no eulogy will raise a ripple
on the bosom of the deep, or cause
an inch higher a crest of single
wave. Decoration Days are for the
living and for our own glory.
This should be made a day of ret
Observation-Disclosures for the
patriotism in others, through whose
acts of sacrifice we have entered into
security and national peace. 1t
should be day also of bouyant
hope-and self-consecration. From
such an exalted pedestal of historic
patriotism in America, on land and
sea, we ought to view the future
with warm hearts, and national op-
timism.
Outward manifestations of regard
for the heroes of the past ought hon
! estly to express our appreciation for
the lives and characters of those
noble men. And the heartiness of
| this expression should also be at the
same time, full assurance to the liv-
ing. An assurance that heroic acts
are not forgotten; that our citizen
/ ship regards unselfishness and self
sacrifice for others as Christlike.
A Jealous spirit for the country,
wide sympathy for others, and
clearly expressed words and acts in
dicative of a true interest in the
country's welfare, are the seeds
sown broadcast, which, in times of
| danger, find large returns in hero
ism, both in war and in peace For
| there is heroism in peace as we'll
/ as in war.
When the Titanic sank last month
| in mid-ocean, we beheld the glori-
Gus results of humane teaching.
! With life-boats sufficient for only
one-third of the passengers on
! board, stalwart men nobly stood
aside and permitted helpless women
and children to enter and fill these
boats.
Here was an exhibition of real
heroism as great, if not greater
than history records of any battle
The historic accounts of friendly
attachment, between Damon and
! Pythias, and David and Jonothan
have moved thousands to constancy
in individual friendships, but noblel
far is the inspiring record of brave
men in the disaster of that ill-fated
ship, who in the very jaws of death
gave to the world an exhibition Of
God-like sacrifice for strangers anC
humanity in general.
There are heroes in peace equal tc
or greater than those ins war. o.
as happily expressed by Whittier:
Dream not of helm or harness
The signs of valor true
Peace hath its test of manhood
That battle never knew"
May the entire people of thi
country be impressed with the no
bility of heroism; heroism in thu
cause of humanity, and heroism il
the cause of civil liberty.
Long and abundantly, may thii
tree of civil and national libert!
scatter its blossoms upon the wat
cry graves of heroes who sleep il
honor beneath the waves; and ma!
the fruition of that same tree
throughout the borders of this
country, prove a prodigious yield o
national peace, manly character ant
true heroism.
The procession then closed rank
, and proceeded to the cemetery wher
the services were concluded. Afte
the decorating of the soldiers grave
and other numbers on the program
Rev. A. l.. Whitaker delivered tn
Grafton of the day, which was as fol
lows:
Rev. Whittaker's Speech.
, Mr.. Post Commander and Mem
, bers of the Grand Army of the Re
: public, and Other Fellow Citizens
= The angry Jordan had been pass
ed by the children of Israel, and
= grateful people had set up stone
: from the river bed as a memorial O
= the merciful kindness of Jehoval
, But the great leader, Joshua, wishe
/ to make sure that the people shoul
never forget that deliveranee froI
: danger and that achievement c
, bright promises. And so he calle
= the people together in Gilgal, wher
= the stones were set up, as we ar
Y gathered here in the presence c
/ these dear memorial stones, "and h
a spake unto the children of Israe
: saving, When your children shal