The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-11-30
WAR FUNERAL
OF FIRST FALLEN
PRIvATEs GRESHAM, ENRIoHT AND
HAY LAID TO REST WITH MILL
TARY HoNoRs IN FRANCE
IPut sandles. in ottawa Sentinel

[Put Sandles. in Ottawa Sentinel
On November s. in Washington. the ed
itor of the Sentinel. while in the office
CT the Secretary of War Baker. learned
of the war funeral of our first fallen he
roes in France. The next morning the
Washington Post printed the following
story which should be read in every
school. church and lodge room:
With the American Army in France.
Wednesday. Nov. delayed THE first
three American soldiers killed in the
trenches in France tonight are sleeping
in French soil, honored by the American
army and the people and army of France.
Their burial took place yesterday.
With a guard of French infantrymtn
in their pictcrsque uniforms of red and
horizon blue standing on one side and a
detachment of American soldiers on the
other the flag wrapped caskets were low
cred in the grave as a bugler blew taps
and the batteries at the front fired min
ute guns AS the minute guns went oc
the French officer commanding the div
ision in this section paid tribute to the
fallen Americans.
His words, which were punctuated by
the roar of the guns and the whistle of
shells, touched both the French and
Americans. In conclusion the French
officer sad:
In the name of the -th division, in
the name of the French army, and in the
Enright, Private Gresham, and Private
Hay of the American army.
"Of their own free will they had left
a prosperous and happy country to come
over there. They knew war was continu
ing in Europe; they knew that the forces
lighting honor, love of justice and civili-
zatiort were still checked by the long
forces serving the powers of
brutal domination, oppression, and bar
barity. They knew that ecorts were still
necessary. They wished to give up their
generous hearts and they have not for
gotten old historical memories while 9TH
ers forget more recent ones.
They ignored nothing Of the circum-
stances and nothing had been concealed
from them-neither the length and hard
ships of war, nor the violence of the bat
lie, nor the dreadfulness or new weapons, |
lor the perfidy of the foe. Nothing stop
ped them. They accepted the hard and
strenuous life; they crossed the ocean at
great PERIL they took their places on |
he front by our side, and they have fall |
IN facing the foe in a hard and desperate |
land-to- hand fight. Honor to them.
Their families, fritnds and fellow citizens
will be proud when they learn of their
leaths.
Men! These graves the first to be dug
n our national soil and only short dis
ance from the enemy, are as mark Of
he mighty land we and our allies firmly
ling to in the common task, confirming
he will of the people and the army of
he United States to fight with us to
inish, ready to sacrifice as is necessary,
Until final victory for the most noble of
auses, that of the liberty Of nations, the
weak as well as the mighty. Thus the
leaths of these humble solditrs appear to
is with extraordinary grandeur.
I'VE will, therefore, ask that the NOR
al remains of these young men be left
ere, left with forever. We inscribe on
he tombs: Here Lie the First Soldiers
f the Republic of the United States to
Tall on the Soil of France for Liberty and
ustice.' The passerby will stop and un-
over his head. Travellers and men of
cart will go out of their way to come
ere to pay their respective tributes.
Private Enright! Private Gresham!
'rivate Hay! In the name Of France 1
hank you. God receive your souls. Fare
ell"