The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-06-01
'RAISE Heroic DEAD
5lONOR FOR THE LIVING
aress Was Delivered By
3 Rev. G. A. cahoon
PATRIOTIC SONGS SUNG
Graves of the Departed Soldiers
Were StreWn With Love
Blossoms

Memorial services for the soldiers
dead We're held in Mankato today.
With n accord the people paid tri-
butte to the nations heroes.
Rev. G. A. Cahoon, pastor of Gen.
tenary Methodist Episcopal church.
delivered the memorial day address.
speaking in part as follows on "a
Nations Dead" to a large assem-
blage:
"This is a day of many memories,
on which we are accustomed to pay
glad tribute to honored living and
heroic dead; a day designed for the
keeping alive of memories Of imper-
|ishable' principles and the valor OF
patriotic Americans, many of whom
now rest on flames eternal camping
ground This day is not like any other
day in our national calendar. It has q
meaning all it's own On Thanksgiv-
ing day we give thanks for the bless
ings of field and flock and ssall,-for
the blessings that the year has
brought. Also on that day we recall
our splendid heritage and give thanks
for the blessings of home, common
wealth and country. On Independence
Day We recall our national history
and celebrate u freedom from the
yoke of foreign bondage, rejoicing
that we call no nation or people
master" shouting the 'battle-cry
of freedom" mingled with noise and
demonstration. But Memorial Day is
different. 1t is to men and women of
thoughtful minds the National Sab
bath. True. it has grown to be a day
of games and frolics and f~rivolity for
fhoughtless folk, as has also the Sab
bath of the seventh day. But to those
who think and feel and understand
this is a day for paying tribute to
those who in the dark daysMofathe
national life went valfantly forth to
do battle for home, for country and
for God; a day for voicing the
patriotism that now, as then is need
ed in the hearts Of Americans.
Honor to Pay Tribute.
ut is both an honor and a privi-
lege to pay tribute to the departed
heroes of the days that tried mems
souls, and to address a living REM
Dant of that honored host, the Nations
Defense. We do honor today to the
dead, and also to the living Of two
wars. We pay tribute to the memory
of the dead and honor the presence
of the living. There were great lead
ers raised up to direct our arnies,-
all, or nearly all of whom are passed
away. The great chieftain, the loved
and lamented Lincoln was first to lay
his armor down. He was a mighty
leader of civil and martial host. and
the north came out Of the conflict
with victory won and hero gone. He
was a child of Nature, man of the
West and an American OF true and
patriotic type. All honor to honest
Abe, civilian leader of military host,
friend of soldier, orphan and widow.
He was the Moses of his generation.
God raised him UP. and when the
cruel war was owe took him to be
with Himself.
Dol Not Forget The Leaders.
We do MOI forget the leadership OF
Ulysses S. Grant and other great
generals, whose courage. cool headed
ness and careful m~aneuvering made
victor possible. We honor and will con-
tinue to honor them. But on this oc-
casion we may be permitted to pay
particular tribute to the private soldier
the weary and worn waded through
streams and swamps, tramped on
countless marches, scaled the battle
ments of the enemy, slept anywhere.
ate what he could get and by his
loyalty, obedience and faithfuIness
made possible the execution of skill
full maneuvers. Valiant leaders and
heroic rank and file together were
able, to rend the Confederacy. And a
grateful people will continue to hold
in remembrance the private soldiers.
many of whom sleep in borrowed
sepulchres. The son of many a
Northern mother sleeps in an UNI
known grave. In Arlington cemetery
beneath the monument OF the UNI
known dead rest the bodies of ELL
in a common grave.
Minnesota Played its Part.
Minnesota had sons in the Civil