Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-06-02
H0NORS PAID
TO NATIONS
HEROIC DEAD
Memorial Day Is Observ-
ed Fittingly in
Aberdeen
ADDRESS BY LOOMS
Orator Pleads for Higher
Standards of
Citizenship

Honors were paid the nations sol
.dier and sailor dead, Tuesday, in
Aberdeen and other Grays Harbor
cities AS expected, the ceremonials
this year took on more impressive
character, and were more widely par
taken in by all classes OF citizens,
than in former years, due to the
European war.
Practically all Aberdeen business
houses were closed for the day. AT
2 p. m. q parade started from in
front of the Elks home on Broadway,
the Aberdeen band leading and playing
national airs. Co. G. End Reg, N. G..
w., and Fourth Division, Naval Mill
tia, followed, with the local G. A. R.
post and w. r. c. next. The Boy
Scouts and members of the Moose
lodge, the latter in autos, brought up
the rear Of the parade, which marched
down Heron street, then north to the
Grand theatre.
F. w. Loomis, at the theater. de-
livered an inspiring address, in which
he pleaded for higher standards OF
citizenship as better preparedness
than could be obtained by adding to
the Nations military establishment.
'While 1t is my earnest desire"
said Mr.. Loomis, Ito avoid upon this,
q purely patriotic occasion. every ex-
preston which might be regarded as
a discussion of that phase of military
preparation, which is about to be-
come partisan issue, and to express
no opinion upon it whatsoever, here
declare my sincere conviction to be
that the greed for gold and that con-
sciousless craving for place and power,
so predominant in American life. are
more pressing menace to our nation
al existence than the ambitions or
japan; that the Unsuitable pursuit of
pleasures, at their best useless and
enervating, and at their worst, vi
cious and debasing, which have weak
ened and detracted from the influ-
ence of the home and lead to the
abandoning of the plain, simple, hon.
est living of other days for foppery
and frivolity, as seriously threatens our
future as the militarism of Europe;
that the refusal of vast number
of native American citizens through
Indifference or negligence to exercise
the franchise and to take responsible
part and interest in political affairs
is more culpable and fully as vicious
as dual allegiance on the part of nat
uralized aliens. The former with all
the advantages of American life and
training is loyal to nothing; the other
is making the mistake of attempting
to serve two masters.
II am not skeptic. l believe the
American people will be equal to the
opportunities which press upon them.
But we must not forget that char
acter is above coin, that conscience
is more powerful than cannon. 1t Is
only those whom we cherish that we
seek to warn. Shall we love the flag?
Aye! Love it to the death: but not
--as--Ote would love painted rag,
but love 1t for the things for which
1t stands, the ideals upon which this
nation was founded and has endured
and by the preservation of which
alone it can continue"
Impressive ritualistic work of the
G.. A. R. and Spanish-American war
veterans was shown in the morning
exercises at Fern Hill cemetery, which
closed with strewing of flowers on
the graves of dead soldiers in both
wars. From the Wishkah city dock
after the exercises at the Grand the
ater, flowers were cast upon the wat
ers in honor of the unknown sailor
dead, under direction of the Women's
Relief corps.