Connecticut western news., 1913-06-05
MEMORIAL DAY
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LII JIl5 lhSu. 1SuOTduCe, sSluSlluesS anu fear make men tyrants, while intelli- gence, benevolence and love fit them for the priceless blessings of freedom i'll this world and open way to their eternal home beyond the sun, moon and stars.
 With these thoughts Tn mind the men and boys who donned the blue packets went forth to do and die in de- fence of those principles that meant not only the breaking of the shackles of sla- very but happier people and better na- tion as we'll. Vicksburg, the Wilder ness, Gettysburg, Shiloh and many other battlef1elds where the best courage of the land withstood their most fearful car mage. have long since buried their dead while grateful people moistened their graves with the tears of everlasting gratitude. The soldiers, the widows and orphans who withstood all the hard ships of that cruel war have long since passed into the peaceful activities of life while the story of their sacrifices has touched the most tender chords of the nations heart.
 No monument, however grand in architecture, no words however eloquent in oratory, no statements from the lips of the wise. no lines from the greatest philosopher, can ever fully describe the sadness nor glory that still echoes back from the battlehelds of the Civil War. The men who fought and died vied with each other in a cause for common country and poured out thelr life's blood like water to enrich the soil from which has sprung the tree of liberty; theirs were the bravest hearts beats that ever pulsated for a human cause, while the altar of our freedom has been baptized with the richest and noblest blood that ever flowed in human veins.
 North, South. East and West upon this Day reallze more fully perhaps than at any other time the strength of our great Union of States. The sprigs of the northern pine entwined with the leaves of southern palm are crowning the tombstones of those who wore the blue and gray, while a hundred million people are enjoying the benefits of their efforts.
 "Other communities throughout the land are upon this day paying their ] loving tribute to the memory of that great army now sleeping in the soil of land molstened by the tears of their children.
 "Thousands of eloquent tongues are telling of the sacrifices made, the hard ships endured and heroic deeds per- formed by those who wore the blue while the wild flowers are blooming on the un. known graves of their comrades who dled far away from the tender care of relatives and loved ones.
 Here amidst the scenes of these rugged old hills where the daisies, but. tercups and clover blossoms drink in the dews of evening, that fade away before the golden sunshine of the morning, you too are honoring the memory of your Afros rfxA1 Co, .A,11 though they sleep among these silent mounds where have been laid your dead.
 Men who followed Or mt in the will derness and Sherman to the sea; men who helped to defend the heights of Gettysburg and prevent the invasion of the North; men who were with Thomas. Fighting Joe Hooker and our own gal lant and beloved Terry; men who suf- fered tortures of Andersonville, Castle Thunder, Bell Island and Libby Prison; men who upon land and sea gave the bloom of young manhood to decorate Liberty's fair form are camping here awaiting t.v trumpet sound that will call them to that reunion of everlasting peace.
 Here. too, rest the remains of part of that great silent factor wblch stood back of all of your achievements, and while decorating the graves of your dead. let fall tear and drop a rosebud over the graves of the soldiers widow, wife or sister. They too wlthstood as men cannot understand, the anguish that comes with war locked within the tender recesses of their hearts, soothed only by the silent tears: to their graves they carried only the sorrows that God alone will ever know Oh at what an awful cost was brought about the close of that desperate struggle ! Is it any wonder that sadness seemed to have left its fur rows upon the brow of every man and woman who were among it's participant.
 "The occasion which prompts these observances are attended with all the dignity, all the solemnlty of funeral rites, without 5heir sadness-it is no fresh bereavement-no sudden sorrow that brings us here, but one which the ever ravaging march of time has soft- ened those sacred mounds which have just been strewn with sweetest flowers nature has already decorated with the memorials of her love above each silent tomb her daily sunshine has smiled, her heavenly tears have wept and to these signs of natures tenderness we now add our own-not dust to dust, ashes to ashes, but blossoms to blossoms, laurels to the laureled, y
 At the close of the oration, which was applauded long and loudly, Comrade Roberts rose and extended the thanks of the Post to all who had so generously CO., operated to make the days observance a success, after which the meeting was dismissed with the benediction by Rev. Mir. Hanna.
 Among the veterans who listened to the exercises at the cemeteries or at the hall were Commander W. R. Weddle, E. s. Roberts, Harmon Scamerhorn, Abram Coons, Geo. L. Parsons, James Quinn, A. P. Briggs, James E. Green, Charles Thompson, H. P. Morse, James Reel, T. L. Sackett, W. F. Sackett, W. s. Rossman, Edward Harmon, D. Gris- wold, Wm. Hart, M. Keane. Wm. Am stead, Levi Stannard, D. D. Walters.
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