The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1919-06-03
TENNESSEE HERO WILL BE COL
MEL FOR LIFE ON GOVERNORS
STAFF - TENNESSEANS TO
GIVE MAGNIFICENT MEDAL
BY p. c. FIELDS

By p. C. FIELDS
Nashville, Tenn, June Coming
down from the mountains for miles
above Wolf river, riding in wagons,
On horse and on mule, the people Of
the upper Cumberland mountains
gathered Sunday in meeting to wei
come home the world wars greatest
hero. Sergeant Alvin York. 1t was
The annual decoration day Of Fen
lreas county at theUpch9rch buryinS
ground on hillside in Wolf valley,
Sergeant York's people assembled in
the morning, more than five hundred
81 :hem, the girls in their Sunday
best. ana The women with their little
ones in their arms.
The soryioes were held under the
trees by the Methodist circuit rider
and Rev r. c. Pile, pastor Of Ser
Gcant York's church, the church OF
Christ and Christian Union. Before
the preaching flowers were strewn
upon the graves of the civilian and
soldier dead Of the Civil War, union
and rebel alike lying in the little
mountain cemetery
AS the people were gathering Ser
geant York himself came to the meet
place. Beside him was Grace
Williams. his young sweetheart and
belle Of the valley. From her home,
they bad walked to the Upchurch
graveyard through the old forgotten
roads
Over the hillsides, made beautiful
Oracle Williams, her blue eyes down
cast and her pink silk dress blending
with the pink mountain flowers that
grew along the lane seemed like
another rose among them.
On the Wagon Seat
Mcn came up to shake the ser
@canta hand, But as soon as he could
breah away, he and Oracle Williams
walked over to the edge Of the clear
ing and sat Ipon one of the wagon
seats There they stayed apart,
while the crowd that had come many
miles tie give the sergeant welcome
home mixed with itself and talked Of
other things. Every one said ii Wa%
strange when the meeting opened and
Big I'M was not under the tree lead
ing the singing of the choir. That
function, which had in the past been
his. was row being performed by his
, brother, Joe Alvin stayed upon the
wagon seat and talked to the lady by
his side.
They sent for him. Sergeant York
ENme, joined the choir and sang in
his clear tenor voice the hymns his
brother led Then, Pastor Pile made
a talk upon the decoration of the
graves. After him, the second elder
was presented to preach to them.
The crowd gathered closer. Wear
ing his medals, the siX-foOt sergeant
stood beneath the tree and told them
how glad he was to be home.
at is with the deepest. love toward
you that | speak today" he said.
"love for you and for all my people
thrills my heart again when | meet
with you | am glad that have the
privilege of standing before you again
in meeting"
Warns Against Procrastnation
at has been two years since we
have met here for this decoration.
There were some here then who are
not among us today and there are
some today who will not be here when
we meet again. While we are spread
| ;ng Flowers on the dead, we should
remember to throw flowers Of kind
ness in the paths of those who still
are living and help them live a Chris
| tian lie.
I'VE know if we trust and obey
God no harm can come upon us, The
scriptures say, 10. / will be With You
always. even To the end of the world.
| If we don't 90 astray we will be pro.
tected by the great and powerful hand
.cf God There is place beyond the
/ throne for those who will obey.
Il have almost seen in the dark
hours of midnight vision into the
pcarly gates of heaven, There are
things that compel men to think OF
God. 1t is hard to be in the dark
0Gur of night and see no one near, yet
hear men dying not far away and
hear them pray to God to save them