The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-05-26
THE EVENING BANNER
BENNINGTON VERMONT
Tuesday, May IS, 1915.
NATIONS FUNERAL cay
Should Not Be Desecrated by Sports
and Merry-makinq

and Merry-making
Editor National Tribune: won
der if you can find space in your
paper for few words from a veter-
ans daughter on subject which
should lie near to the heart of every
soldier-Memorial Day.
When | was child looked for
ward eagerly each year to Memorial
Day as one of my happiest days, be-
cause. in company with other
children of my age, was taken
dressed in white. with a sash of red
or blue across my breast, and flowers
in my hands, into the cemeteries in
my town to assist the veterans of our
Grating the resting places of deceas-
ed comrades. Like the children of
today, | was proud and happy to have
a part in Memorial Day. and also like
the children of today | failed TO real
ize the true meaning of the services.
Patriotic teaching, which is today
deficient in many points, was then
even more so, because failing health
and thinning ranks had not as yet
caused the veteran to see the need
of training others to perform the dut-
les OF Memorial Day.
When | became woman | joined
that noble band of women, Auxiliary
to the G. A. r., the Woman's Relief
Corps, and as ! advanced in the work
of the organization began to realize
what Memorial Day should be to
this great nation, and also just what
it really is. All over our land on
May 80 each year is heard the
sound of martial music, patriotic
speeches and songs. while every
where little bands OF white-haired
veterans follow with measured tread
the emblem of liberty. for which they
fought 90 years ago, to the cemeter-
les where the ever-lncreasing num-
Der of little flags. floating over the
resting places of loved comrades,
show only too clearly what Memorial
Day means to these men, whose
deeds created it. Their faces show,
to one who observes them closely,
how memories of scenes, long past.
when war like a horrible nightmare
hung over the nation, return to them
now, undimmed by those years of
peace, which have succeeded war.
Their flattering voices. as they re-
peat their beautiful service and the
tears which sometimes dim their
eyes show that to them Memorial
Day is what it should be to every
citizen of this fair, land of oars, day
whose peace and sacredness is sec.
ond only to the Sabbath.
Memorial day is our nations great
funeral day, and as such the laws of
the nation shonld protect it from des
ecration. Alasl they do not do so.
Mingling with the sweet music of the
dirge, the soft tap OF muffled drums.
the quivering voices of the veterans
and the call of the bugle for Lights
OUT we hear the hoarse shout of
the fans, in the fields where base
ball and athletic sports are taking
place. When evening comes, on ever
side. borne on the breeze, which stirs
the flags, still at half mast in tok-
en- of the nations mourning, we can
hear the sound of dancing feet and
lively music, and shouts of laughter
where some Memorial Day dance"
is in progress, a hideous mockery OF
the sacred purpose of the day.
Do not think that in their proper
time and place l object to dancing
and athletic games and sports. | do
not, but contend that such games
and amusements are entirely out of
place on Memorial Day. Is there any.
one who would wish to shout or at
tend and take part in dance on a
day made sacred to them by the death i
Of one near and dear to them? Every
human feeling within us cries out
No! and still we permit such things
On the day set aside by this nation
as tribute to those brave men
whose lives were offered and whose |
blood was shed, that our country's |
life might be preserved, and our flag
night stand today before the world !
With its honor unsullied and it's field
If stars complete,
To the remnant remaining of these
heroes who saved our nation it is
sorrow to witness every year this
yanton dissertation of their sacred