Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-11-30
K. OF c. HONOR DEAD
WITH AN IMPRESSIVE
MEMORIAL SERVICE
LIEUT.. HARRY r. KELLY MAKES
STIRRING ADDRESS AT LAST
EVENINGS MEETING.

The knights Of Columbus hall was
flied last evening when Starved Rock
Council held its annual memorial sery-
ices. The service was most i'm
pressiye one in every respect, and
was very unusual in that twelve Of
the organization have passed away
during the past year. Five OF the
names on the mortuary list were sol
diers who gave their lives for their
country.
In the absence OF the grand knight,
James f. Graham, whose only son,
Frank Graham died Thursday after
noon, Attorney Henry NJ. Kelly pre-
sided Mr. Kelly conducted the ritual
and a special musical program was
given.
Hon. James +. Farrell spoke for
Jhe seven civilian members OF the
lodge, JoJseph JOY, William Bitterly,
Mathew Gordon, James I. Walsh, J..
c. Goodnetter, Frank Holmes and Jo-
seph NJ. Doherty. His talk was short
but was one OF the most beautiful and
sincere addresses ever delivered in OF
taWa. He paid tribute to the departed
brothers and tod OF how they were
loved and missed by the other mem
EerS OF the organization.
The most enjoyable feature Of the
evening was the eulogy delivered by
Lieut.. Harry f. Kelly. the only CT
| taWa man who was presented with a
lSroiN de Guerre with palm by the
| French government for distinguished
| bravery under fire, Lieut.. Kelly
lproyed to be as great a drawing card
| last evening as on his previous ta.ks
in Ottawa, and his talk was thor
oughly enjoyed by the men hearing it.
He spoke OF the five soldiers, Peter
| +. Boyle, Fred w. Gerding Jr., En-
NETT j. Moran, EttOre Vignochi ana
Arthur d. Aussem, saying in part;
our council rol has been called and
twelve OF our brothers have failed
| to respond. But a few months age
our country called for her sons II
stand and defend her liberty, yes, hel
very existence, and to that call al
our absent brothers answered, pled1
| ing life and devotion to their coGn
try.
Many of you here assembled fol
lowed the remains of Brothers Gerd
ing and Boyle to their last restln!
place. these brothers having died il
different camps throughout thu
States while serving their God ant
their country You did what littl
you could at that time to pay tri
butte of respect to the memories o
those departed brothers. But tOnigh
over two thousand miles away iron
here, in different portions Of the bal
tle-sCarred country of France, ther
rests the remains of four of our NJ
blest brothers, with a little cross 0
wood standing in a field torn by sheI
and shot, marking the graves of thes
brave men.
mo, we could not kneel with ther
in prayer, as their bodies rested bt
fore Gods altar on earth for the las
time. We could not stand with III
covered head as they lowered the co
fin into the grave, for they were ava
from home and friends when the mes
senger of Death on the BATTLEFIELD
summoned them before their Lore
We could not be witt them, for theil
was a soldiers death, the most beal
tiful of all deaths
Many Of YOU here tonight recall th
, last time you saw these brothers {
they bid you good bye and told you
a proud but not boastful way that the
were about to take the long journc
oversee to fight for democracy.
"They knew then that they we.
i, gazing upon you and those so de-
i. to them for perhaps the last tim
I. But they were soldiers and they su
pressed and kept back the tears tn
= tried to come and with a smile ba,
you goodbye,
"And then they reached the battl
field where they took their places
that long, human line, standing |
tween Paris and the Huns. Life W
just as dear to them at that time
\ it has ever been to you, and yet tn
I did not finch as they saw their co
A rades on each side Of them blown In
| unrecognizabe heaps Of torn hums
ity by the huge exploded shells Sc
over from the enemy's guns. TIL
knew not when their time would COZ
for they were always IN the preser
Of Death Every hardship of life W
CONTINUED on page 3, col, 81