Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-31
IN MEMORY OF SOLDIER DEAD
Memorial Day Procession Followed by Exercises Chelsea Parade-Inspirine Address Made by Rev. Joseph H. Selden-Prof. J. Herbert George Decorated Soldiers Monument.

thy for the living who mourn for the loved ones they have lost Let us re- call to memory the men who in time of danger made their breasts barri- cade between our country and it's foes. Let us recall their tolls on the long, weary marches: their intense suffer- ings in the hospitals, their fearful sac riflces in the prison pens. their sub- lime feroisrn in the days of battle, and finally, as we are gathered at this monument as before an altar. may we God, the memory of our country's dead shall strengthen and encourage in us all deeper and more abiding patriot ism.
 The Gettysburg Address.
 Prayer was then offered by Rev. salist church, and Tubbs' band rem dered sacred selection after the prayer. The reading of the Memorial day orders by WarrSz Lee Goss and the reading of the obituary record by Adjutant George Kampf followed. After the Gettysburg address by George AL bert Keppler, the monument was dec- orated by Prof. J. Herbert George.
 The Memorial Day Address.
 Rev. Joseph H. Se.den delivered the Memorial day address, which was as follows:
 Fifty years have passed since the or ganizatfon of Sedgwiek post. For half a century, under the leadership of the Grand Army of the Republ~., the cit izens of Norwich have observed this day. Decoration day 1t was called at the first gathering. We gathered in memory Of those who had faced the grim perils of the battle field and given their lives in sacrificia1 devotion to came to be known as Memorial day, and the change of name is significant The heroic dead were not forgotten. With no less of tenderness our sol- frr~ssg Anv CTS. But as we gathered for this cele- bration our thought have centred not on their tolls and sacrifices. but on their achievements; not on the cost Of the war, but on the triumph won. AS the years have passed the deeper meaning of the great contest has been revealed to US. We have come to un- derstand that it was not simply a civil war: armed strife between the North and the South The central is- sus was the integrity of our national life.
 Webster spoke 2 great message on the floor of the senate he gave us the watchword "Iibertv and Union, one and inseparable." But was this a true message he spoke? Can a free people form nation. coherent. master of it's resources, competent to order it's life in such way as to safeguard common interests while allowing free scope to private initiative? Can a re- public win and hold the loyal devotion of its citizens In the campaigns from '61 to '65 the answer was writ ter in fire and blood. The surrender at Appomattox marked not simply the end of civil strife. From that day the United States stood forth a nation not a confederation of independent conmonwealths. but a nation whose citizens. inspired by common ideals. arc indissolubly bound together by the tie of common devotion.
 Americas Influence Profound. The influence Of America in the years that have passed since the close of the war has been profound and far reaching. These years have witnessed an astounding revolution in the poiiti- cal conditions of the nations beyond the seas.
 hundred years ago democracy seemed little more than dream. The United States stood alone. Every where the round world over the system of autocracy was enthroned in the seats of power. On the continent of Europe the nations were under the rule of sovereigns whose will was rec