Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-07-07
PRESENTATION Or
MONUMENT TO
CO. COMMISSIONERS
By Hon. j. M. Longnecker
July Fourth 1921

| No one in all this vast assembly
can appreciate, can comprehend, can
enter INTO the true spirit of the senti-
ment that shafts represents, Ike
those who participated in the coun-
try's conflict. That lovely, beauti
full tribute to the Nations defenders.
The last vestage OF the greatest
army the world ever saw, up to its
period, is rapidly passing out of ex-
istance. To its memory, more than
any other, is this beautiful monument
commemorative; while it includes
soldiers of every war, those whose
names, more than any other, adorn
hts tablets, are of the soldiers of the
great Civil War.
! Inc nag OF no Nation was ever
dearer to it's nations defenders tnan
Old Glory was to the boys of the
struggle of '61 to rs.
! The fourth of July is a beautiful
and fitting day for this service, Tor
US to take an inventory and see
where we are at. The glory of Rome
overshadowed all history, but it
! took Rome, with her boasJed legions
and her conquering Eagles, 1000
years to extend her sway over an in
OIle Hall O1 what
tory and population is ours without
tyranny, and ours without conquest.
When Old Glory was born 146
years ago, it threw its benencient
shadaw over a thin strip OF the At
lantlc coast from Maine to Georgia
much, yes 800 per cent of our coun-
try lay undeveloped back of the Blue
Ridge divide. All OF the Puritan
immigrants and the early settlers
were men of wonderful strength of
Character and physical force and
J History leads US up to '61 '65,
were the fertile seed of the Ameri-
can manhood of today
with population IN 1850 of 26,000,-
600, and finds the south blocking
the progress of the nation on account
of the curse of Slavery. You all
know what happened. The men to
whose particular memory this shalt
has been erected, settled for all time
the unity of this marvellous domain.
Lincoln prophesied in his Gettysburg
speech that this nation should have
a new birth of freedom. The pro-
phesy was fulfilled by the census of
1870 showing SO millions of people.
In short the boys of '61 to '65 push
ed Old Glory on higher staff than
ever before. But it was left for
Admiral George Dewey, in Manila
Bay to shove it to still higher PIN
nacle, so that all the worIu might
see what a wonderful nation the
flag of the stars and stripes repre-
sented. And the boys of the worlds
war put it SO high among the ma
tions of the world that you almost
require spy glass to see it.
One great consoling thought and
the greatest pride of our wonderful
Nation is the indisputable, undeni-
able fact that your Uncle Sam
never called out an army that failed
to accomplish the purpose for which
it was called.
Brother Kenyon has given you a
complete history of the trials of the
Monumental Association. We hope
Y have carried out your wishes
That we have at least been faithful
to the trusts imposed, and in behalf
of the Monumental Association
now present to the Commissioners
of Fulton County and their success.
lsors in office this beautiful monu.
ment for their care and keeping
through the long years to come, be-
!lieving they will also, be faithful t.
tne trust committed to their care.