The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1919-06-27
ocALA WELCOMES Heb HOME
COMING SOLDIERS
Continued from Page One)

brilliant as they were they do not
compare with the heroic part you
played because they were not animal
! ed nor actuated by the same motives
nor inspired by ideals SO exalted.
| You did not enter upon the theater
of war for territorial expansion and
aggrandizement, nor for world domin-
ion, but for the sole and lofty purpose
of making the world a safe place for
human habitation and the home a
hallowed sanctuary.
In the performance of that duty
your splendid courage and your sub
lime sacrifices will live forever in
song and story.
When we witnessed your going,
+, saw you bid farewell to loved ones
and friends; beheld your fathers,
mothers, sisters, and sweethearts,
press you to their bosoms in a fond
and affectionate embrace; in bidding
you farewell we could not but behold
the suppressed feelings that were
tearing out their very heartstrings.
yet bravely babe you go, saying to
you: do OF die 1t was then that
our whole being swelled with patriot
&c emotions and we reverently gave
thanks that we were born under in
situations that were capable of bear
ing such priceless fruitage.
We watched you step by step; we
heard your proud and martial tread;
we saw you enter the training camps
and finally saw you cross the treach-
erous seas; silently and with ouiv-
ering hearts we saw you enter the
dark and gloomy shadows of the Ar
gonne forest, and when your intrepid
commander shouted hack to his SUI
perior officer of the allied forces
that the American khaki-clad soldier
knew no such word as retreat; saw
you unawed by the roar of cannon
and face unfiinchingly the deadly mis-
siles of hitherto victorious enemy,
and with a mighty, unfaltering and
overwhelming effort turn the tide of
battle, we reverently gave thanks to
high heaven for giving us boys with
blood so rich and rare, nerves SO like
triple steel and courage 80 daunt-
less.
You, by your bravery, have given
the world new meaning of liberty
born OF democracy, and in a baptism
OF blood you have added increased
luster to the Stars and Stripes and
have made it thing of alteration to
those everywhere who are yearning
for the freedom it symbolizes.
And what shall we say of those
who shall never come back-those
who made the supreme sacrifice;
those who laid down their young
lives that you and l might live and
enjoy the blessings of peace and live
TRANQUILITY and happily undisturbed
by the ambition of heartless rulers.
In the language of Jobu Oxenham
in "All's Well"
They died that we might live
Hail!-And Farewell!
All honor give
To those who nobly striving, nobly
fell,
That we might livei
That we might live they died
Hail!-And Farewell
Their courage tried
BY every mean device of treacherous
hate,
Like kings they died.
Eternal honor give
Hail!-And farewell
TO those who died,
In that full splendor of heroic pride
That we might live!
We know that grave has been
carved in the hearts of parents, kim
dred and sweethearts that no amount
of tears will fill nor length of time
assauge.
In the language of Lincoln at Get
tysburg, may we not ask: Shall this
nation not resolve that they shall
not have died in vain?"
II not so, in the immortal supplica-
ton of Patrick Henry: God for
bid
Unless a league of nations is form
ed and is made strong enough SD
that the gradual disarmament of ma
tons shall follow, wars with their
terrible toll of death and lamenta-
tons and mourning will continue