The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-12-05
"A Comforting Letter.

To the grief-stricken mothers OF
Iowa:
Mrs. J. A. Dale is having letter
which was sent from France, pub
lished in regard to the death of her
youngest son, Homer Dale, in which
she wishes to share her grief with
others, especially the mothers of De
catur county. The letter is as fol-
lows:
Somewhere in France, October,
To the Relatives and Friends of Ho-
mer Dale:
Dear People: AS the chaplain
officiating at the funeral service OF
him whom you love and mourn, 1t
may be of some comfort to you to
hear from me. In every instance.
We always try to have chaplain of
each mans own faith, CATHOLIC or
Protestant, minister to him. Every
thing possible was done by the nurses
But the disease that gripped him was
too virulent. We are all sorry that
this had to be, and extend to you
our sympathy in this hour of sorrow
that has come into your life and
home.
We held our little funeral service
comrades and friends were gathered.
His coffin was decorated with French
and American flags. After the serv-
ice, the procession formed. The fir
ing squad marched ahead, the clergy,
the hearse, the pall-bearers and the
escort following. When we went
Through the streets the French and
American soldiers stood at attention
and saluted in respect to the dead
and those who had paid the great
price. After the committal service
at the grave, the bugler blew taps
over the grave. AS the echo Of those
long, drawn-out, sad notes returned
/ to US from the hills and as we saw
the setting sun in the West, it made
own native land. | am sure that ev-
! cry soldiers heart goes out to you
\ in sympathy.
one is buried is a French-American
Military cemetery of which our Cen
trail Records Office keeps an accurate
record and photograph. The num-
Der of his grave is 101, and his
serial number is 3222173. He died
on the 18th of October. We have
put up a little cross at his grave with
his name, rank, organization, serial
number and date, of his, death: the
French women, they hey.v who have nanhd lost
uncles and husbands, show their
sympathy to the distant mothers,
sisters, wives and daughters Of
America by decorating the graves
with flowers and keeping them beau
tiful. These women Of France show
a most beautiful and wonderful
spirit
MY poor words may be of little
comfort to you for the absence Of
one whom you will never again see
and for the voice that is still. do
not know your name as write. but
l gather it from the letters you have
written, or from some little pocket
testament which he carried in his
pocket, given him by a mother: or
wife, or pastor, or loved one. AS
see these treasures and read your
letters. | feel as though | know you
and that you are my brother, my sis
\Grave of your loved one. May GOD
with you and bless you, comfort
pu in your home, and help you to
feel that the Spirit, the invisible part
of ourselves, the soul which we can
not touch but which we know within
ourselves as life, cannot die, but
lives on. And may the suffering and
sorrow which our nation must bear,
help us to realize the precious value
of life and help our nation to be
stronger, nObler and more vlrtuous
than ever before. In our nrayers
out here on the distant fields OF
France we always remember the
folks at home, our country an" our
flag, and we pray that the Kingdom
of God may increase among rs. Nay
you find help and comfort in Him
who alone can be your stay and help
in trouble.
Very sincerely yours.
John P. Jockinsen
n nj