The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY SPEECH
BREATHED OF PATRIOTISM

The Memorial day address was very
ably presented by F. H. Clausen,
treasurer and manager of the Van
Brunt Manufacturing company of
Horizon He said:
The most sublime pages of history
are those which record the nations
dead. Martyrs in all ages deserve to
be hOnOred for all time. Men who have
sacrificed all of life for the promotion
of great principles illumine with their
names the archives of the past. But
| to the soldier who offers up his life on
the altar Of his country is reserved
the heartfelt gratitude of great peo-
ple
| This day belongs to our nation. Ev-
erywhere throughout this broad land
the sound of the factory wheel is
hushed; the banker has left his desk
the merchant his counter, the work
man his bench and all have approach
ed with reverent mien the graves of
the soldier dead.
Memorial day this year is a sacred
day. The commander in chief of our
army and navy, the president of the
United States, has proclaimed that
this day shall be observed as a day of
prayer. We approach the Altar of the
God of Nations in humility and rever-
emily ask his blessing for the living
soldiers of the nation who cross the
seas to fight the battles of democracy
l. 1t is altogether fitting that we
should do this. Humanity is sometimes
forgetful of the conditions which Gre
| ated it. The man strong with the
strength and vigOr of years traces no
connection to the time of his infancy,
to the conditions which surrounded
him in youth and oftimes ascribes too
little credit for what he is to the low
| ing care of the mother who bore him
So we the people OF this Republic for
| get that the nation was once young,
that it has been torn by strife and re-
beliiOn and forget the human sacri-
| flee necessary to preserve the bless
| lngs of democracy for us.
1t is the right, it is the duty, it is
the privilege of American citizens ev-
eryWhere to meet together in the cit
| les and hamlets throughout this land
to give thanks and to sing praises to
American patriots for the government
which they founded and which they
have preserved
| In 1918, from this day and this hour
Memorial day will have been recon-
secrated in the hearts of a grateful
people. The casualty lists of more
than 5000 Americai boys carry to us
the sacred trust to preserve their
memories as long as our national life
shall endure.
Established Memorial Day.
Just fifty years ago Memorial day
was founded. In 1868, General John A.
| Logan, then commander in chief of
the Grand Army of the Republic, is
sued General Order No. II designating
May 3Oth as a day to be devoted to the
decorating of the graves of the dead
comrades in arms. Thus was estab-
lshed a custom which has grown in
public favor with the passing years
and which will endure as long as the
nation itself
How appropriate the seasoni In
this month Of May, nature aroused
from refreshing slumber has put on
the new gown of Springs awakening.
The fair flowers of the field caressed
by sunshine and kissed by showers
offer their fragrant tribute to the
queen of morning. How fitting it is
that we should strew these emblems
OF hfe's Immortality over the graves of
those who though dead to mortal Wis
ION i've forever in the history of the
nation and in the hearts of their coun-
trymen.
we come not today to place these
Wreathes OF remembrance over the
graves OF conquering legions. Our tri-
bute OF tears falls not on hosts once
drunk with the power of conquest who
may have crushed some weaker foe
struggling for liberty and human
rights. No blush Of shame need diff
iuse the pride of the citizens of this
nation when he contempIates tbe
achievements of the American SOL
ldier.
Ihe strong arms of the armv and
navy OF this republic have never been
raised except with a righteous DUR
pose OF liberty and humanity. In-
splred by the divine made axiom that
right makes might the American sol
der has made the forward march ot
freedom's holy cause the most poten,
fact OF the past century.
AS long as the soldiers of this re.
public follow an ensign that signifies
humanity and equality they will be
invincible and the nation they serve
indestructible.
The marshalls Of the past march in
review before us; the Pharaohs of an.
cient Egypt holding in bondage &
: great people; Alexander the Mace
dOnian signing for more worlds t(
conquer; Hannibal of Carthage defy
ing the snow peaked Alps; Caesar
with his conquering legions, Napoleon
with Europe at his feet They pass