The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-08-24
The OXFORD BOYS MEMBERS OF
The ocALA RIFLES.
They Were Given an impressive Fare
well by the Good People Of OK
ford Vino Are Proud Of Them.

ford Vino Are Proud of Them.
On last Sunday the good people
OF Oxford. Sumter county, met at the
liberty pole" to say goodbye to her
brave soldier boys who are members
of Company A (the Ocala Riflesl.
In letter to The Bushnell Times
Mr.. Clarence Warnock says that Ok
ford feels proud of her young. manly
soldiers. He says that he reioices
that they are not bunch OF slack
ers"
That little town has furnished two
to the hospital corps. Two to the
navy and ten to the Ocala Rifles
This was done before the seIective
draft was put into operation. Others
tried to enlist in various branches oil
the government service but for one
cause and anot her we're turned down
Mr. Warnock among other things
says;
They are fine lot of fellows.
too. and will all make good soldiers
Some one. at parting. admonished our
/ boys to be brave and fight Loyalty f0rI
the flag. I spoke up and said: r
know they Will do that. that goes
without saying They are going off
to fight in a just cause, and we have
a right to feel proud Of them and
they have right to feel proud Of
themselves. If our cause was not
just. [ would still be proud Of them
for I fully endorse the words Of
the famous toast OF Commodore De
catur: My country, May she ever be
right, but my country righr our
wrong All honor to our soludier
boys OF he medical corps. Of the
navy, Of the National Guard
Just before our boys left. one Of
our citizens furnished the boys with
/ some headache medicine in the shape
Of cigars. Then the boys lined up
and their friends shook hands till
| they were tired A few minutes be-
fore their final leave-taking two of
our beautiful girls. daughters of the
Blue and Gray" pinned on the
shirt Of each boy a beautiful rose
as beautiful as themselves Thus has
beauty always decorated chivalry
am sure our boys will come back to
| us heroes: for they could not disap-
point the love and confidence and
friendship which. am sure. they felt
was theirs. OF course the occasion
was more or less sad but we pass
| hastily from this to the words of
! spartan mother who said in reply TO
/ the statement that we should feel
proud Of our boys: Yes. I am proud
of Earl. though I hate to see him go,
would rather have that. than TO see
him trying to dodge his duty as some
are doing. I am proud to know that
he is man These words were
spoken with misty eyes and trembl-
ing voice; and I must fondly believe
that such mother is already as great
hero as her son. though he covers
his breast with medals. There are
other mothers among US. dare say.
who are as truly heroic
Before closing this article I wish
to say few words to our citizens
who do not feel that our cause is
just or .who are in some way op-I
posed to the conduct of the war. II
have no argument for those who ac-
cept fully the doctrine of non-resist-
ance as matter of religion I do
not in anywise censure them. Meth
er have I any argument for the man
who last year 'cussed' the president
for a coward and is now knocking
the administration in every way he
can. But. as a student OF history. Il
am bound to conclude that this war
is as Just as any war our country
ever waged. not excepting our Amer
lean Revolution.
In closing let me again say. AM
honor to our soldier boys of Oxford.
and let them remember the famous
words; Thrice is he armed, who hath
his quarrel just"
Harvev f-farlr * v-nrx- -rO,,I ~ bis