Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-05-30
DECORATION DAY.

In grateful remembrance of thei
lives and their services a nation to
day strews fragrant flowers abov,
the dust Of the veterans who Dor,
arms for their country and who sleeI
beneath the sod 1t is a beautiful
custom, this annual breeze of bios
SONS that garlands the graves Of de.
parted heroes, and one which we
hope will never be forgotten.
The nation reveres the memory of
those who responded to the call of
duty it loves those who still are with
us, though their locks are silvered by
the touch of time and their step is
otttimes weak and faltering. In the
full flush of their young manhood,
when life was all before them, and
the future held rich promise Of re-
ward, they forsook their plowshares,
their desks and their counters and,
leaving loved ones behind, Jared
forth where their country called and
where danger and death awaited.
Their sacrifice was truly creative
of later generations can never know
just how great, and we do well today
to honor them and their memory.
Let them sleep in peace. Beside the
ripping waters of the river, on many
a bloody battlefield, high on the
slopes Of windswept mountains, in
the peaceful village cemetery on the
hillside, Or deep in the cold embrace
Of the oceans tide, the thousands
who fell in wars cruel struggle await
the coming of the final day when
mankind shall be summoned to his
account. But, wherever they are,
no matter what sod, or rock, or
wave hides their sepulchre, they are
not forgotten and year after year, in
grateful remembrance, a thankful ma
ton strews the flowers of early sum-
mer over their mortal remains.
We cannot do too much. AS the
years go by, the tendency is to for
get the services the veterans have
rendered. Time in its resistless
sweep, smOOthes the rough edges of ,
our sorrow and heals the wounds ,
left by the harvest of death on the ,
battlefield. A new generation-two n
of them in fact-now pursue the -,
paths of peace where the grizzled ;
veterans trod the highways of war /
a half century ago; and the new a
know nothing of the g,
dark days when the fate Of the ma .
tion hung in the balance, when (
brother was opposed to brother and II
the rivers ran red with the blood of -
loyal sons. But the blessed privilege !
and the worthy custom which Deco -
ration Day has builded in our hearts l.
and in our homes, recalls to us -,
,aintly, through the lapse of years, a
he service that our forebears rem .,
Tered and the sacrifices they made, r;
md we esteem it a duty and a priv 9,
lege to garland their graves with !,
blossoms and to honor and revere n
hose who still are with us, living re- II
ninders of the bravery and the chiv- -,
Try of the past. =,
Though their backs be bent with NJ
he weight of years, and their hair ba
e whitened by the flight of time. mn
heir eyes CLEAN with loyalty and or
eviction to the starry flag that prov ci,
d their inspiration in the days of III
jl, and we honor and revere them. sai
veryone. And those who still are bo
.ith us must realize that they too. ,s.
MI soon be gathered to their faith IN,
n, and through their hearts must cor
ome today a peaceful calm and sb,
'anquility that overeomes all heart m,
urmngs as they realize that they cio
10, will be remembered by the pres sol
lt and future generations ON each
.curring Decoration Day. sp,
Il is a solemn occasion. vet a c,,
easant duty, that brings us togeth- ser
today, with all factional lines for for
'tten, with all internal strife laid inc
lde. and permits us to once again MN
new our allegiance 20 the honored ind
al. As James Whiteomb Riley sec
IS so feelingly and clearly express eve
it -,
is lonesome-sort % lonesome D
It's a Sund v day 70 me ,-;o,
pears Ike. more'n amy day / com
nearly ever see. 81
Yet, with the stars aud stripes -. -
above f'n
huttenn' IN the air:
On ev'ry soldiers grave Ia love @ @l.,u
lay a lilly there ''''