The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-11-07
TRIBUTE To OUR
SOLDIER DEAD
GOV. HARDING'S MEMORABLE
TALK AT CAMP DODGE
WERE AMERICAS BRAVE SONS
Victims of Influenza in Recent Epidem.
&c Did AS Much as Any Man
Could Do, Gave Their Lives
To Their Country.

at the memorial services held at Camp
Dodge Sunday afternoon in honor OF
the soldiers who died during the re,
cent epidemic of influenza, Gov. w. L.
Harding in part said:
A Time For All Things.
1T has been beautifully said, There
is time for every purpose under the
heaven-a time to be born and a time
to die, a time to break down and a
time to build up, time to weep and a
time to laugh"
We assemble today in the presence
OF these immortal spirits of these sol
diers, who, clothed in the uniform of
| their country, were stricken on the
way TO the'b battle front.
Man does not live unto himself
alone Life is not an isolation. The
voice of the dead in this mightiest of
wars will be one utterance from all
who gave their lives in battle and in
camp, The voice of these will mingle
lin the. mighty chorus of the martyr
forces of the pastJfThey will ring for
| human liberty ethroughout the ages
| yet to come. They ally themselves
with the worthy dead from every bat
| tlefield where mortal man has fought
These soldiers in whose memory
We here gather are marshaled in that
mighty army of the dead of all the
ages past who had caught the spirit
of liberty, of service, and of sacrifice.
Something Gone From Our Lives
With the passing of these soldiers
from this world, something has gone
out from our lives. There is void,
| and, for the moment, it is difficult for
us TO regain our pOiSe or TO readjust.
! We find comfort, though, in this
they went with zeal for the glory of
our flag and all it represents. They
were content to spend their time in
cantonements,- to work long hours at
even mental things in preparation for
their part. ....
The spirit of their willing sacrifice
! is here. II is a token ever to us all
| that life is not looking forward into
the future, but the duty OF this day.
! He who lives but single hour, lives
throughout all centuries if perchance
he catch the spirit moving like a
mighty deep through his day and gen
! Grafton. ...
! Who can say theirs was an easy
passing? Who can say it did not take
/ supreme courage TO die alone? Out
on this hillside, in the army barracks
there was not the sound Of cannon nor
! the crack of the enemy machine gun.
! There were no trenches or hand gre
nades. There was not the companion
ship and inspiration of numbers. There
was not the command, Over the top"
there was no weapon in their hands.
! Silently and alone, in the quardntined
! city, bravely and courageously, with
out d murmur, these soldiers met the
grim reaper, and while a smile was on
their lips. Who can say it did not take
supreme courage to go that way?
Americas Brave Sons
They were Americas brave sons,
like unto those who have fallen on
the fields of France. How proud
America is. today of her citizen sol
diery gathered from the pillow and the
counter, from every walk of life-thc
rich, the poor, every creed and every
religion all making. the supreme sac.
rffice in the same noble spirit.
! These young men were gathered
from the firesides of the homes scat
tered on the plains of this mighty
western prairie. They knew well the
marts of peace. They loved the wood
ed streams the scented meadows, the
music of the lark. There's was life
] in the open, close to nature and ma
lures God.
They had ambition. They were filled
with the pride and glory of young man
hood. Youth was theirs, and in its fer
yid promise they had dreamed and
planned for climb to distinction
iamong their fellows. Their bodies were
strong, their minds pure, their vision
clear. and in this strength they were
summoned TO war.
It is not for us to roll back the cur
tain and know the play upon these
young lives that call TO war in de-
Tense of home and fireside meant. We
can read the story in their ready re-
Spouse and their application TO every
duty assigned. Unaccustomed they
were TO the command of superior Of
ficer. Little had they given to take
command, but like the trained soldier
they laid aside every hope and every
ambition and gave their all TO their
country and its flag.
Heroes, Everyone!
History is replete with stories Of
heroism and bravery on field OF battle
These soldiers in whose memory we
meet today have added their heroism
to the already crowded pages. look
down the corridors OF time and see
millions upon millions of baby faces
and in their prattle hear them sing
ling the song OF liberty and giving cred
lit TO the citizen soldier. who. In his
Willingness 70 do. was stricken in the