Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-24
SERvICEH ONORS
CITY HERO DEAD
Impressive Ceremonies Attend
Presentation of Golden Glory
Flag TO City.
AUDIENCE CROWDS CHURCH
Colonel Fl. B. Jordan. B. D. Con-
nelly and E. C. Fisher Speak
Community Sing a Feature.

not have did in vain" was the
thought impressed on all who at
tenGed the memorial service held
yesterday afternoon at the First
Methodist church in honor of the
So Rock Island men who gave their
lives in the world war.
The services were most impress
sive, and the large crowd of rela-
tiVes and friends of the boys who
are represented on the city's Gold
en- Glory flag, which was present
Red yesterday, will long remember
the honor which was done their low
ed ones. The flag containing 65
stars was brought in by four re-
turned Rock Island boys who have
seen service overseas: Paul East
land, VIII Roth, Elmer Hildebrandt
and Ralph Lindbloom.
Places had been reserved on the
main floor of the church for the
relatives of the honored boys, and
the various patriotic organizations
of the city attended in a body. The
church was beautiful in the decor
ations of huge American flags,
laurel wreathS, ferns and the flags
of the allies.
a fitting program had been ar
ranged for the afternoon, including
splendid talks by Colonel H B. Jor-
dan, Commandant at Rock Island
arsenal and B. D. Connolly, who
represented the local exemption
board. E. c. Fisher, sUperintend-
ent of schools presented the flag to
the city and the acceptance was
made by Mayor William McCon-
\ochie. NJ. D. Griswold, who is TO
act as custodian of the flag, also
gave a short talk.
E L. Philbrook led the audience
in singing patriotic songs, with
Rev. w. G. Oglevee as accompan-
ist. Mrs Fred Mann sang the
verses of the Battle Hymn of the
Republic" and the audience Joined
in the chorus.
B. D. Connolly, the first speaker
of the afternoon, told of the part
the exemption board had played in
the great war, spoke of what those
who stayed at home owe to the boys
who are returning home, and to
rifice, and will never return. He
said, in part:
I'VE expected Rock Island to do
its share il sending boys to war,
and to measure up to other cities
of its size, and it did not fall down
in this task. There were $4,000
men who were sent out from here,
and the great majority went will
" 70 do
honor to the lads who fell in this
war and who made the supreme
sacrifice. that our children and our
children's children may have liber-
ty. In the sixties it was liberty
which was fought for, and again in
the Spanish American war when the
liberty of Cuba was at stake.
For 40 years Germany had been
preparing for the day Der Tag
was a favorite toast of German Of
Ulcers. Then they started. Could
America stand back and see the
things Germany was doing? She.
did for while, but, thank God. she
rallied. On June ). 1917, 10000
men registered and the next regis
tration $4,000 more signed up to be
summoned to stay the hand of the
tyrant They were crying over
seas. When will the Americans
Gomez At last they went. The al
lies got new courage, and felt they
would do anything.
Owe Boys Duty.
Our boys are now coming home
We owe them a duty on behalf of
the boys who will not come back.
Are we going to lose the fruits of
their labors? There are seventeen
million aliens in this country to-
day. Only six million of them are
naturaliZed. A man is not respon-
sible for the land of his birth, but
if he comes to America he is re-
sponsible to this country for his
actions We don't want any of these
men who won't become Americans,
learn the American language and
foster American ideals. We want
no fifty-fifty Americans. We want
American Americans.
America has never been ready
for any war in which she has par
ticipated- I believe in universal
training, so that if a day comes
when it is necessary for US to stand
up against a foe. we will be ready. |
Lei us not IOTSct our uuty " LHSSc
boys who have fallen"
Colonel Jordan spoke on behalf |
of the officers and men who served !
abroad and at home, expressing |
their appreciation of what the fall !
len men had done.
my duties overseas" said Col !
onel Jordan. carried me along a |
line of the British front l have 7,
seen the battlefields on which our |
boys fought. If I could paint what |
1 saw, you maybe would believe |
just what our American boys did. /
The hun knows nothing except !
brute force. Until we gave him |
bomb for bomb, gas for gas. fire |
for fire and attack for attack, he |
did not understand
THE war worn veterans of /
France and England took on new
lines when the Americans came
The entente forces went to it and |
brought the war to close 6 months |
before General Foch had said it ever I
could be closed. Our men fought !
Just as well, or better than any of |
{he allies. If our soldiers could
take a place on the battlefields
have seen. they have a right to be
proud, and we to be proud of them.
| ask that for those who have gone
to the beyond, that all of us in our
prayers, ask God to bless the souls
of the boys who gave their lives"
H@In q