Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-06-04
MEMORIAL DAY
WELL OBSERVED
Large Crowd was Out to Pay HOm.
age to Our Soldier and Sailor
Dead. Impressive Service
Held
DIR. F.. w. CONOVER GAVE
FINE MEMORIAL ADDRESS
Many Soldiers of World War Were
In Parade, and Were Cheered
Along the Line Of March

Citizens of Decorah and Winnie
shiek county paid a, reverent and
loving tribute to its soldier and
sailor dead last Friday, Memorial
Day.
The day was ideal and one of the
finest parades in years was held.
A number of the blue clad heroes
OF '61 were in the parade, as well
as number of the heroes of 1918.
The veterans rode in autoes and the
younger soldiers marched at the
head of the procession and they
drew the admiration of the big
crowd that lined the streets travers-
ed by the procession. About fifty
soldiers of the World War were in
line, many of whom saw hard SER
vice in the trenches over there.
Major L. L. Caldwell rode horse
at the head of the procession, and
he certainly illustrated to his friends
that he is as young as ever, even it
he is S3 years old. Major Caldwell
was in the cavalary in the army in
the Civil war, and it was a we'll
demonstrated fact on Memorial Day
hat he hasn't forgotten how to ride.
The procession formed at the
court house square, and marched to
the Commercial hotel, then west on
| Water street to the West Decorah
bridge, and countermarched back
| to the Grand where the memorial
exercises took place before big
audience.
The services were opened with
prayer by Rev. McVettie, and tho
reading of the memorial day orders
and calling the roll of the dead was
done by Major L. L. CALDWELL. A
choir composed Of Messrs. B. H.
Adams, D. H. Hill, Mrs. John Nc
Call and Mrs. H. F. Barthell render
ed appropriate songs.
The reading of Lincoln's Gettys-
burg address was given by Mrs.
Jennie Trzcinski.
The memorial address was given
by DR.. F. w. Conover, and it was
one of the finest given in years,
and we are pleased to give it in full
below:
1T is at this season, when nature
is assuming her lovliest apparel.
that we congregate in celebration OF
the saddest, sweetest, of American
holidays. Sad in retrospection, sad
in the realization of the mighty sor-
rows which have come to all Of us;f
and which has befallen with equal
weight and anguish, upon those who
have long since been gathered unto
the land of their fathers. Sweet in
cherished ideals and loving memor-
les. Today the hearts Of all Ameri-
cans throb and beat as one. Today
the teeming millions of American
minds are moved by the same high
and lofty thoughts. Today millions
of busy, loving hands are scattering
flowers upon the graves OF our
heroic dead, the noblest OF their age.
1 often wonder If it comes to others
as it oft times does to me the quest
ion why are our hills, and why are
our valleys so flecked and marred by
graves, graves filled with the noblest
sons of men, stricken down Dy
brotherly hands in compliance ana
obedience to the commands and
edicts and man-made laws and or.
ders of war. Is it in keeping with
Natures laws and Gods commands,
or has the world failed in its ap-
plication of the simple teachings OF
that meek and lowly Nazerene,
whose coming was to bring health
and happiness, light and peace, to
troubled world. And whose life and
deeds, yea and whose hallowed
sacrifice upon the cruel cross or
qualification. become the beacon light
of the only true civilization for mani
to follow. Would it not be in wis.,
dom's way to loose the thongs OF
dogmatic blindness which have for
1000 years given us false ldeals',
and lead us into dangerous practices
and with united energy, rescue the
Golden Rule from the International
iokebook. Place it upon the sanct7
uary of the great throbbing heart OF,
America, as an Offering to compen-
safe for the supreme sacrifice Of our
bonored dead. Dead, who once lived
as YOU and l live, with the inherited
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