The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-06-03
TRIBUTE PAID TO NAT
IONS SOLDIER DEAD
Heppner Observed in Fitting Manner,
Memorial Day-Fair Pavilion Fill.
ed With People Who Listened To
Excellent Program.

ed in Heppner last Saturday morning.
1t was the grandest display of genu-
inc observance of the day ever seen
in this city, The program WAS ar
ranged by members of the local Wo-
mans Relief Corps.
School children assembled at the
Court house, and led by the band
marched to the Fair pavilion. They
were followed by Civil War veterans
members of the W. h. C. and frater-
nal organizations of the town.
l.. A. Hunt was master of ceremon-
les at the Pavilion and introduced
the speakers. Patriotic songs we're
sung and by the time the speaking
began, the building was filled to the
doors with people who had come to
pay loving tribute to the memory
of those men Of all wars who had
fought and died, in order to perpet-
uate the principles of true American
ism.
+. X, Brown read Lincoln's Get
tysburg Address in a most impress
siye manner, after which Mrs. X. J.
Vaughn sang, with Mrs. ]. o. Turner
at the piano. Mr.. Hunt then read
General Logan's Memorial Order,
The address of the day was delv-
cred by s. E. Van Vactor. Many
were not fortunate enough to be pre-
sent and hear this mastery Grafton,
so we are printing it in full here
with.
Soldiers of the Grand Army of the
Republic and Ladies and Gentlemen:
We assemble here upon this occa-
sion, upon day originally set apart
for the decoration of the graves of
the Union soldiers of the Civil War,
but which has broadened in It's scope,
and now the grave of no loyal soldier
remains ungarnished or forgotten.
We meet for this purpose today
with mingled feelings of sorrow and
pride, to pay loving tribute to our
soldier dead, to place upon the altar
OF love and affection the inscription
OF cur appreciation of their devotion
and sacrifice.
In the beautiful language Of the
gifted orator, T. W. Higginson:
I'VE meet for a purpose that has
the dignity and the tenderness OF
funeral rites without their sadness.
1t is not a new bereavement, but one
which time has softened, that brings
us here. We meet not around a new
ly opened grave, but among those
which nature has already decorated
with the memorials of her love.
Above every tomb her daily sunshine
has smiled, her tears wept some
grasses nestle, some vines creep, and
the butterfly, ancient emblem of i'm
mortality. waves his little wings
above every sod. To natures signs
OF tenderness we add our own. Not
ashes to ashes, dust to dust, but
blossoms to blossoms, laurels to lau-
rels."
While We mourn their death and
seek expression for our grief, 1t is
with pride that I'VE remember that
through their having buckled on the
armor Of the warrior, through their
having faced the shot and shell of
heir country's foe this Universe IL
better and brighter, and it seems to
me that we, of all people, should in
no way seek to repress the feeling Of
manly pride that surges throughout
our being, in recalling the deeds OF
our fallen heroes. We have our
abode in the land made great and
just through their endeavors.
Through their having lived and
died has spontaneously arisen Gov
ernment that will forever stand as
a monument erected on the founda-
tion of unselfishness; has arisen a
power that stands as a living light
and presence; living visible promise
to those who are less fortunate In
other lands
AS we meet upon these occasions
to pay homage and reverence to our
sacred dead, we speak not to them
alone, we speak to all humanity, and
to our posterity that throughout all
time the achievements OF these de-
parted soldiers, whose ashes now re-
pose in the silent encampments of
earth, are theirs to cherish and guard
as a most precious and hallowed
trust.
To the ears of infancy must be
conveyed the ideals for which these
men have fought and died by the
tremulous lips Of age, that they may
thus continue to transmit to the chill
dren of all coming generations, for
all time and forever, the sacred and
magnanimous principles, the estab-
lishment Of which, has taken the life
blood Of the best manhood OF the
Nation.
The American Revolution WAS
fought and won by our ancestors,
that a Government might be estab-
lished on earth where all men are
free and equal and resulted In the
liberation Of the colonies.
The Civil War was fought and won,
as said by the great Lincoln, that
such Government might not perish
from the earth.
The Spanish American War was
fought and won that these principles
might be perpetuated and resulted in