The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-12
I'm MEXICO To Serve MANKIND"
SAYS Wilson, LAUDING HEROES
President in Euog1ng Dead at Brooklyn Navy Yard De-
cares His Feelings Are Mixture of Grief and Pride
-. -. :. s, for Lads Who Fell at Vera Cruz

New York, May 11.-Perhaps the most
solemn moment of all the memorial exer-
cises arrived when President Wilson rose
to nay his tribute 10 the Vera Cruz
heroes at the services In the navy yard.
The Presidents address was marked by
its simplicity. 1t seemed as though he
would say nothing that might excite
popular ciamor. He seemed touched with
a deep emotion as he told of his feelings
of profound grief and pride over the
bodies Of the young heroes before him.
The President spoke after Secretary
Daniels had delivered his address in
which he went over the list Of the dead.
Addressing Secretary Daniels the Pres
ident said;
"Mr. Secretary: know that the feel
ipgs which characterize all who stand
about me and the whole nation at this
hour are not feelings which can be
suitably expressed in terms of at
tempted oratory or eloauence. They are
things too deep for ordinary speech.
For my own part. I have a singular
mixture OF feelings. The feeling that is
uppermost Is one Of profound grief that
these lads should have had to go to
their death; and yet there is mixed
with that grief the profound: pride that
they should have gone as they did.
And. II may say It out of my heart.
tCuCn OF envy ION u HOSC Wbo WciS FSi-
mitted 90 quietly, 30 nobly. to do their;
duty. 'r
Have you thought of 1t? There Is
the roster Of the navy, the list Of men,
ofilcers, enlisted men and marines. and
suddenly there swim nineteen stars out
Of the ust-men who have suddenly gone
into a ARMAMENT Of memory where We
shall see their names shine; not because
they called upon US to admire them. but
because they served US without asking
any questions and 10 the performance of
duty which is laid upon u.s. as well as
upon them.
The Peculiar Distinction.
Duty ID not an uncommon thing. gen.
tlemen. Men are performing 1t in the
ordinary walks of life all around US all
the time. and they are making great
sacrifices to perform It. What gives men
like these peculiar distinction Is not
merely hat they did their duty, but
that their duty had nothing to, do With
them, or their own personal and peculiar
interests. 1
'They. did not give their lives for
themselves They gave their lives for
US because we called upon them as a
nation to perform an unexpected duty.
That Ii the way in which men grow dis
tinguished and that is the only way-by
serving somebody else than themselves.
And what. greater thing could youl
serve than . nation such as this, such
N we love and are proud Of? Are you
sorry for these lads? Are you sorry forl
the way they will be remembereds Does
II not Quicken, your pulse to think of the
list fthem? I hope to God that none
Of you Viii Join. them. but n you do you
viii join an immortal COMPANY.
Eyes 90 the. future.
go, while We are profoundly sorrow
full and while there goes out of our
hearts . very deep and affect1onate SYM
pathy for the friends Of these lads, who
for the rest Of tiieir HIVES shall mourn
them scs VIII touch OF pride. ne know