Mountain advocate., 1920-06-04
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION

One of the most impressive Me-
mortal Days ever held in Barbour
Vile, was that held in the Methodist
Church on Sunday and at the City
Cemetery in the afternoon when the
graves of those who had served their
country were decorated by the Amer
lean Legion as we'll as by their rel
atives.
DR.. e. T. Franklin delivered
magnificent address, full Of fire and
feeling. He likened earthly to the
spiritual wars constantly being
fought saying that christianity has
militaristic tread and that Almighty
God uses war as a means of advanc-
ing the cause of righteousness, JUS
tice and humanity. War was nee
essary in our day and generation
and out of 1t sprang a splendid spir-
it of sacrifice which has taught us
that we are brothers to the whole
world.
The speaker said that the only
force that will bring a cessation of
war is a spiritual force and until
men and nations learn to live closer
to God, war will occur. He also said
that war had saved more lives than
were lost by accentuating health
cleanliness, moral impulses and NOR
al cleanliness.
He urged that as the mon who
had fought thru the COS had lived
under high ideals, that those who
now held the defense of the nation
in their hands should carry on in
the same way.
DR.. Franklin said: America is
the country chosen by, God to carry
out His great purposes in the en-
lightenment and publication of the
world"
After paying a tribute to the Amer
lean dead, he said the American Lee
gion is one of the most potent fac
tors in the life Of the coming gener-
ations.
Rev. S. F. Kelly, in handing over
tke G. A. r. flag was visibly affected
with emotion, as were the Few old
heroes who helped to save the union
in the COS. There are but few OF
those living and as Rev. Kelly said
~ is time for the old gray heads TO
lay down their responsibilities. They
can no longer quick step to the fife
and drum, tho no Drawer men fought
than those on both sides in the Civil
War"
The speaker asked that in the flu
ture they might be permitted to
stand alongside of the men of the
Legion and drop a tear or a flower
on graves of their honOred dead.
DR.. Leslie Logan. in accepting the
flag. said that as the flag had been
loved, honOred and kept pure by the
old veterans, so the Legion would
love it, honor it, keep it pure and
that never should it be trailed in
the dust before an enemy at home
or abroad May God bless you"
Before the close of the service
Mrs. A, H. Davis very sympatheti-
cally rendered, "Tenting on the Old
Camp Ground"
Members of the Legion before re-
firing passed to the front and shook
hands with the old veterans.
In the afternoon, after the sing
ing of a hymn, Rev. r. L. Creal
spoke of the price in tears and sor-
rows that we have paid for peace.
He paid tribute to the silent dead
who lay in the cemetery, whether
they served by Shilo's waters, on the
hills of Gettysburg or marched to
victory at Appotomax and whether
they wore the blue or the grey.
Others served in Mexico, against
the Indians. in the Spanish Ameri-
can war and these, with those who
sleep beneath the peoples of Elan
ders or elsewhere in the France they
went to save and all fought for right
eousness and justice on earth.
After roll call of the old veterans
by r. N. Jarvis, the Legion decor
ated the graves of those who lie
agIaan In tho aaOnafarV