Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-05-09
to France.

Mrs. George P. Anderton, of Braddock
Heights, near this city, whose death
occurred in December last while on his
way to join General Pershings forces
in France. Mr.. Anderton formerly
resided in East Orange:
From the gateway of ancient Christ
Church, Alexandria, Va, where Wash
.inpton used to worship, and Robert +
Lee, flies many-starred service pan "a;
ner, with a single golden star. me
supreme sacrifice of life and youth,
thus beautifully honored, stands tor
the highest realization of true citizen,
shin in our Republic. Each and all
are rendering service to the nation,
from the humblest to the highest. put
ncne serve it better than the mothers
who willingly give their sons to tne
cause of :. On, ough with a death
Ices so, il i fgy hose who go but
never II u11
The eclG;., s;ai on the service flag
shines frr,uZa liz. darkness of these
weary d. ~ emblem of hope for
the dav Il sr and more Christ
ian ora a Il service and sacri-
6ce in ;ha ance of higher aims
and ide...s o. md living shan nave
oovern.G oar Il 1idual conduct IN the
mast Many le service stars that
now boeog .5e ing will in time give
way to the golden stars that honor the
dead. They will form new constelia-
tions in the starry armament OF the
fallen heroes of the countries OF the
allies-of Belgium and France, OF
England and Italy, who though bled
white in three years of fighting for
liberty and democracy, will hold the
far-Hung battle lines in northern
France until the new armies OF Amer
lea can take their place. For a will
ing nation stands behind them with an
aroused sense of duty, made evident
by the toll of those who work IN the
trenches of labor, in the secluslon OF
the home, and through the weary
hours at the bedside of the wounded,
to render their share of help in the
ultimate attainment Of the victory that
will be ours.
The golden stars on the service nag
stand for those who have been faith
full to their country, "even unto death.
A grateful nation will ever remember
and never forget the work OF these
brave men IN behalf Of the cause OF
civilization WHEN the worlds fate was
in the balance, until the principles oil
democracy and self-government proved
victorious and triumphant over mill
tary autocracy and imperial nisrule.
Nearly two thousand years ago the!
Wise Men of the East first saw the
Star of Bethlehem, as the vision OF a
new order, foreshadowing the birth
of Christianity and reign Of peace,
based upon the eternal principles OF
the Fatherhood of God and the broth,
erhood of man. How different would
have been mankind's destiny without
the sublime sacrifice of Jesus and the
unyielding resistance of the Christian
MARTYRS in the life and death struggle
against barbarism and idolatry For
the war of today is against forces as
sinister and destructive as those OPP
posed to the spread of Christ's teach
ings and the gospel of religious free
dom, which has become the heritage
of all the world The present struggle
for political liberty and national Sc
$curity against wanton aggression IS as
sacred and essential to the cause OF
higher civilization and lasting peace
as when our armies of old fought for
the life of the, Republic and in the
faith of the fathers cried ;"Give us
liberty or give us death"
The war will make us new nation,
more American than ever, and a more
thoroughly united people through the
divine ministry of universal suffering,
sacrifice and sorrow. 1t is an exalt-
ING experience for the whole country
to unreservedly sustain the President
and the Government in the most effec-
five and ultimately victorious conduct
of the war. Men and women, youn
and old. white and black, all stand
ready to meet the supreme test of 10
atty and devotion to the cause for
which we are lighting and will con-
tinue to fight, with the help of God,
until our declared war aims are rea-
lized, as basis for a just and lasting
peace. In very truth it has been said
that at was Christianity which de-
feated Attila in Gaul as certainty as
it alone was able later to turn him
back from the destruction OF Italy,
and Just so our ultimate victory ovel
our enemies WI be spiritual rather
thar material, by the grace OF dod
rather than by the might OF men.
Our hearts go out to the afflicted
fathers and mothers, bowed down II
grief at the irreparable loss of thei1
beloved sons and daughters on duty il
the, national service, whether in thu
cantonments, on the, high seas, or OF
\. the bsttlefelds. From the immorta
names of the first three Americans t
fab in France-Gresham; Enright an
FHay-the lengthening roll of honor
marked by the golden stars on tn
service flag, which no one can pas
save with barred head and tear-dimme
eyes, in silent tribute and gratitud
for the best that the fatherhood an
Motherhood of the nation had to Civ
A nation justly proud of its army an