Connecticut western news., 1918-06-20

/
tocracy, but we know when the great
Commander who led you to victory
said LET US have peace" you millions
of armed and conquering men laid
down your weapons and fastened
homeward to a devoted service of
peace.
Thers are many today who are
worrying over the problems which
this country must face when the war
is over. For one, l say, lets win the
war and settle the problems after
wards, if any exist, but take little
stock in any of these fears. l be-
lieve that all these questions will be
fully settled by the million or more
young but tried veterans whom we
expect some day soon to see returning
conquering heroes from a foreign
land. If any of you have doubts,
recall that the purpose for which each
and everyone of these men have gone
to fight is love of country; remember
that they have gone to fight to Sc
cure to this and for all other coun-
tries, a government like our own.
Read the letters which they are writ
ting home and see the number that
windup with the statement that "the
old U. S. A. is good enough for me"
and then bear in mind when they do
get back that by common consent
of all of us, they will be the power
and influence which for a generation
at least, will control the destinies
of this country, and l tell you that
for one am confident of seeing
all of the best traditions of our gov
eminent stand, and the grand U.S,A.
going on to still more glorious his
tory.
In these chance-chosen words of
appreciation which l have used, l do
not wish to be understood that the
words of "men" and "boys" apply
to men alone. l also include with
the words of equal praise and ap-
probation the millions of mothers,
wives, sisters and daughters whose
fearful prayers and hours of devoted
labor and sacrifice in every place and
walk of life, while tenderly caring
for the striker on the battlefields and
in the hospitals, and by loves de-
voted labor in their own homes, aid
ed the living and relieved the pain
and suffering of the wounded and
dying soldiers, when you were the
'boys in blue" and are today rend-
ering the same devoted service
to our boys, to their boys and to the
''boys in khaki"
So again 1 say to you, veterans of
the Grand Army of the Republic,
from three of the proudest staes in
the Union, the old Empire state of
New York, Massachusetts, the land
ing place of freedom, and our own
beloved state, Connecticut, of whom
none need be ashamed, North Can
aan bids you welcome, as let me say
she will, after the last one of you
have answered the last roll call, al
ways welcome and cherish the re-
memberance of your great deeds.
M. D. Rudd, secretary of the asso-
citation, responded for the veterans.
Mr.. Rudd stated that he felt his
preparations had been inadequate to
properly responded to the greeting of
Mr.. Roraback or to the people of
Canaan, who had received the vet
Grams with such a showing of spirit.
He said that the comrades were
growing less in numbers each year,
but that it would be some time yet
before they had all passed away and
while they were with us, their place.
in the. sun woAd never be taken.
They have earned this place, the val
ne of which no man can tell.
The commander of the department
of Connecticut was the next speak
er and praised the school children for
the excellence of their work. He
stated that he had been so we'll enter
tanned since coming here that it must
indeed be "the happy land of Canaan"
The commander read an article re-
latirg to the various phases of the
local G. A. R. posts, of considerable
length, which we are unable to re-
print at this time.
Judge Advocate S. B. Horne of
Winsted made a motion, which was
duly passed, that a vote of thanks
be extended to the men and women
of this town for their hospitality,
and to the school children for the
excellent program which they had
given. "Why is it," said Col Horne,
''that little village like this can turn
out so well and us old veterans have
, so many nice young ladies to wait
on us?" Col. Horne said that he