The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-02-26
Our Cemeteries Abroad

DC asked 10 give their opinions
to how cemeteries abroad should be treated Those
in France and those in Scotland are two different
propositions. In France the climate is favorable to
floral decoration; the French people are flower low
ing people and it would not matter much whether we
the American people-paid much attention to the
graves of heroes not for the French would do
it. They will for centuries come consider them
selves under debt of gratitude to the American peo-
pie and will consider it labor of love, and be glad
have the privilege Of taking of the last resting
place of those who gave their lives that the world
might be free. Of this will not free us of the
responsibility that upon and of those
places will be visited by thousands of people while
touring through Europe, country should show its
appreciation of the service rendered and the sacrifices
made by taking care of the ground wherever hero
rests.
For those who were less fortunate and never
got to France, but were murdered on the. Tuscania
and whose bodies washed upon the rocky shores
of the Island of Isay and were buried there also for
those who the Inflated Ortranto and were plunged
their death in the raging sea and whose bodies were
also upon the shores of the Island of Isay and
buried there something further should be DONE
They less heroes than those who fell in action
the battlefelds of France and Belgium and whose
those who died in battle. 1t is my understanding
that small monument has been erected to their mem
DRY but something should be done to beautify their
last resting place. which altogether different from
that of our boys who are buried in France The Is
land of Islay out from the mainland where the
shores washed by the Atlantic waves after travel
ling three thousand miles across the ocean. The popu
lation of the island is scant being composed of fisher
from the beaten path of man and for several months
during the winter are practically off from the
outer world entirely Their cemeteries are something
like most of those that you any country village
rough and unkept-the tops of the monuments be-
ing only visible the top of the rank grass and
weeds during the summer months and distorted
place in winter
Hundreds of our boys are buried there, but we
do propose to let them be forgotten and l would
suggest proper setting for that part of the world
that Druic or Celtic cairn be erected Among the
stones making up the cairn there would be large
boulders placed in front bearing the of all the
boys also the date cause of DEATH etc. Then there
should be stone wall about four feet high erected
around the whole thing. 1t would be necessary to
have fence of some kind and wall would last for
ever and is the style of fence commonly used in that
with American trees-mostly evergreens. AS the eli
mate is moist the trees and shrubs would grow and do
well and be an object of interest all Americans.
The planting would be so truly American that every
one would know its meaning, the whole thing to be
carried out by from this country so that it
would be done just the American people would like
it to be.
AS the years 60 by those trees and shrubs would
mantle of green that could be from the ocean
and the thousands of people who leave Europe each
year and come by the north coast of Ireland would
get their first glimpse of America here. All sea-
faring men would be familiar with the history of the
spot, and passengers on board ship-when leaving
land or coming to task what this that particular
object is, the would be than glad to give
them the information. The first thing that the thou
sands of Americans who will flock to Europe in the
years to come would see, they in sight
of land would be the dark green foliage of the island
in contrast the light green coloring of the
Then sailing on field glasses would be brought into
use and all eyes would turn that way Thus the
memory of our brave boys who died their way to
fight for the freedom of the world would live forever
they sleeping within sound of the Atlantics
that travel three thousand miles from the land
of their birth and spend themselves their feet
to speak, clothed in mantle of green-the giants of
our embems of the giants whose last resting
place they cover. The man standing on the beach
would hear a voice from the raging sea saying, 1--WE
have come from home, the sea, to honor you.'-
D. L. Macintosh, Saltwater, MINI, in Parks and
Recreation, of Seattle.
Strange fact that just the prohibition
L L.
with spirits in this world people suddenly developed