Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1920-02-27
HONOR SOLDIER DEAD
MEMORIAL. SERVICES HELD AT
HIGH SCHOOI-FRENCH GER
TIFICATES GIVEN OUT

Memorial certificates conferred by
the French government were presented
the next Of kin Of number Of Morri
son county boys, who gave their lives
in the late world war, following fine
memorial service at the high school au
ditorium Sunday afternoon, conducted
by the Little Falls Post of the Ameri
can Legion. The service here was one
of thousands held throughout the coun
try on that day. The attendance was
not large, due, perhaps to the fact that
the time was short when arrangements
were commenced here, permitting of
but little publicity.
The service opened with a few re.
marks by A. H. Vernon, commander of
the local post, who outlined its pur.
pose. He explained that certificates
had not been received for all who died
in the service, but that those who did
not get them at this service, would re-
ceive them through the mail.
A mixed chorus, led by Miss Laura
Brannen, sang the beautiful hymn,
"Lest We Forget.' Rev. II. J. Buck
ingham, then read poem, entitled
"Here Reposes," by Captain freeman
Trotter, who gave his life in the ser
vice. Ernest Carlson then sang "In
Thy Hands," which was most fitting.
After this, the audience arose and
stood with bowed heads for a moment
in silent tribute to the dead. Mrs.
Philip E. Gregory played a funeral
march by Chopin, which was indeed
beautiful and most ably played.
Rev. A. Lamothe, of st. Francis
Xavier church, delivered the memorial
address. He remarked that it was
something great to see on this occasion
that our friends have not forgotten us
and he pronounced the certificates is
sued by the French government "nobil-
ity diplomas to those whose sons fell
on the fields of France.
Rev. Lamothe spoke briefly on Amer
lea 8 entrance into the war, following
an urgent appeal from the Allies, who
were facing defeat and how, after the
United States had entered, the i'm
pending defeat was turned into victory.
Fifty thousand lives were offered on
the battlefelds Of France, by this
country, but what was this, he asked,
as compared with the 100000 lives
given up by France. Not only was her
man-power sapped away, but it was a
drain on her materials and her finances.
Before the war, France was the banker
of the world, but now she is nearly
bankrupt. However, the people there
are not discouraged or downhearted,
but they look across the waters to
America and consider this country, her
friend. France helped the United
States in the revolutionary war and the
debt was repaid nobly.
In conclusion, Rev. Lamothe stated
that although the war is over, the
wounds must yet be healed and it is
the duty Of this country to help to
heal it. There is much suffering in
Europe, and America must do as the
Good Samaritan did-pour oil on the
wounds of the suffering, that they may
be healed. Father Lamothe said that
there is no nation which has the liberty
that this country has no nation, which
has been under the despotism Of monar-
chial rule, can ever hope for such lib
erty. From this conflict, America will
emerge greater and nobler, with a more
sincere feeling for the good Of human:
ity.
The service was concluded by the
singing Of The Marsellaise and The
Star Spangled Banner. Miss Bessie
Brannen acted as accompanist for these