Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-26

Memorial Day
Dear Father and Mother:
rms Is Memorial or Decoration Day
ana well know what il will meap n
YOU poth. II Is the famiy's frs. real
Memorial Day when we give practical.
y all our thoughts 10 one of Ms who
IS no longer with us.
] would give anything | ever owned
% De with YOU today and traye, with
YOU out TO dear Melvile's grave and
remember him and it with bououe,
d howers, but | know only too well
nat ne looks down from Heaven to
DAY and knows that although I AN,
thousands of miles from thar littI.
rave yet my thoughts are inst as
nuch MS as though was kneelinp in
prayer with YOU both at his grave
VIII be candid and say to Won both
nat am today lonesome and home.
'lck' | never thought that Decoration
oay could mean to me Just what i,
Toes This year. There is a bali game
MS afternoon here between two mines
n Khaki and although il PROMISES IN
De very good game am in that
mood today that have no desire IN
see H. ] know only too we'll that
10Th of YOU will today think back =,
MS time last year when We were All
ogether and this national holiday will
e anything but a festive ocr,sion N
'tHer OF Won But we should thanh
'od for all He has done for rs and
While ! know il is impossible ia for.
get our loss. vet we should remanho,
nat ne VINO meanth 80 much Ia ns
lefe on earth, is infinitely more han.
" with God than he was or could ba
WIN us. ! witnessed The decoration
ceremonies here today that made NV
ear ache When the graves of some
~ the boys who have fallen over hero
we're decorated and the three volleys
fed. thought indeed of the ane,,,s,
Y those in America 70 whom tbese
'N ~ hiu'h' toulu NOT but
hank God from the bottom of NV
1eart that He was good enough 70
pare me. Remember not mere,y
rom selfish motive of .hedesire IN
we. nut because He had spared ,ou
MS same anguish and pain. If was as
onesome q sight as ever caro- IN
ee. those little white crosses restiu.
me end OF the graves thousands =.
lilies from home, in foreign soil
me OF my best friends. young lieu.
ehaht, who ! bunked with ever since
oihing the Ninth regiment. lies !,
me OF those graves over here uo
vas Killed few days before | was
Wounded was only few wards
rom him when high explosive broke
nd blew him all to pieces. II was my
ISL awful taste of war, a sight that
VIII never be able to forget and II
eemed that ! felt his loss as though
had known him all my lifetime He
as brother who is an officer in the
ervice over here and who came down
o get particulars of his brother,
cath, taking picture of his brotn
RS hnal resting place in order thai
re might send it home to his Door
mother.
So YOU see ii seems as thoupb ev
Try body has his or her trouble this
'ay 1t is as though the Lord had
ct these years aside as a period of
rotation for all.
But you both must be relieved of
II worry for me from this on | will
erhaps no longer he required in the
'ervice. but if the government still
'esires my services. unfortunately II
vii be In one of those bomb proof
obs ! am glad Of this only for your
sake, as personally | would give much
get back in the big scrap.
have not resolved any orders as
'et, but feel that will he given the
privilege TO return TO the States ana
cave the service and yet on the other I
lahd feel reasonably sure that the ,
government will urge me TO take an
instructors job. Everything is O. +.
With me and am getting along fine.
The doctors and nurses could not he /
better to me and ! am receiving won.
teriul treatment, | will clo1 by ask !
ng Gods choicest blessings on two
who have suffered much during this
year. ! kuc~ there are brighter DAYS /
,head for all of us.
with love and prayers for you all. |
| remain,
Your son.
tIARpv