Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-05-08
HOMECOMING
FOR SOLDIERS
Judge James II. EIIiilI and Rev. Fir.
O'Reilly Make addresses at the
celebration

NekeDFatlOW
Over 500 people attended the home
coming celebration at st. Joseph's au-
ditorium Thursday night 1t was the
most joyful and memorable event IN
the history OF BaraboO, and formed
the most pleasing contrast from the
grewsome thoughts OF war which nave
weighed so heavily on the minds OF
both soldiers and civilians for over
two years.
Judge Hill, in his we'll chosen words
Of welcome, paid a high tribute to our
returned heroes, and expressed the
fond hope that, having resumed their
peaceful avocations, they would con-
tinue to reflect the same credit on our
country in time of peace that they
have reflected during the war.
BEFORE introducing the speaker, ta-
ther O'Reilly made the following re-
marks:
This is an occasion when words fall
to give adequate expression to the JOY
ful emotions which animate our hearts
and souls, as we assemble mere TINS
evening to welcome back our valiant
Young heroes who, desplslng danger
and death, left their peaceful avoca-
tons to defend the sacred principles
of democracy and to liberate the world
from bondage and slavery.
Noble champions of Liberty, we sa-
lutte you as the first citizens OF our
land and | am pleased to inform you
that we consider it great privilege
to have you with us this evening as
our honored guests. In the name OF
St. Joseplgs congregation, | extend to
everyone of you hearty welcome.
We are proud of your splendid rec
ord, your glorious achievements, and
YOUR brilliant victory. We congratu-
late you on the great honor which is
yours. By your heroic sacrifices you
have covered our flag with undylng
glory and endeared yourselves to the
hearts of humanity. Your names Will
be emblazoned on the glorious pages
Of American history, and generations
vet unborn will sound your praises in
song and story.
We congratulate your dear parents
for the honor VIII. oh is theirs in having
made such a noble sacrifice to the
cause of Freedom, a sacrifice which
will endear them to the hearts OF the
American people and the afflicted peo-
sons, have helped to rescue from ty-
ranny and oppression a..
IT'S true that some dear parents
though proud of their sacrifice, are
sad at heart, because their dear ones
will never return, and it would be fu
tile for me to try to beguile such par
ents from the grief of loss so over
whelm ng, but | cannot refrain IRON
rendering to them the consolation thai
NAV be found in the gratitude OF ar
afflicted world which their boys died
to save. May God in His tender mercy
assuage the anguish of their bereaVe
mont. and leave them only the cher
isbed memory of their loved and lost
and the solemn pride which must be
theirs, in having laid so costly a sac:
riice on the altar of Freedom. We
should rejoice, rather than weep, over
the glorious death OF martyred heroes
whose sacred graves have consecrated
the immortal battlefields of France
and whose names will be enshrlned II
the memory of the republic forever. In
dying for their country, they died fol
God and while you have been crowned
with earthly laurels, as reward OF
YOUR valorous deeds, they have lie
ceiyed the imperishable Crown OF
Glory in Heaven.
Wis true that some of our boys cid
not have the opportunity to actively
participate in the struggle. Bif% they
a~e, nevertheless, deserving to partlcl-
pate in the honors of this glorious vic
tory, because every boy who entered
the service gave himself unreservedly
to be disposed of accord 'ng to the
judgment of his superior officers, and
if thousands have failed to reach the
battlefields in time, the fault is not
theirs, but rather it is due to the un-
daunted courage and irresistible I'M
petuosity of our boys who were al
ready on the job, and wanted to finish
it up in time to get home for their
Christmas dinner.
We also would like to claim a little
share in the honors Of victory; for
though we were unable to fight and
remained at home, we were not idle
spectators All through the dreadful
conflict we stood Loyalty behind you
with all the material and moral forces
at our command We contributed gen
erously to the Red Cross, the Y. M. c.
A, the Knights of Columbus, and all
the other agencies of mercy that &C
companied you to the battlefield and
left at the disposal of our government
our last dollar to aid you in the strug-
gle. And last, but not least, you were
daily remembered in our prayers be-
fore the altar of God.
And now, noble heroes, while you