The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-06-02
Tom Schall Speaks at Arlington.

congressman 1HOS. ~. OCIldu Oe.
livcred Memorial day address at
Arlington, and it was especially ap-
propriate and consequently appreciat-
ed. He said in part:
"Soldiers Of America: A little way
down the Potomac, in a spot as serene
as the spirit Of him who dwclt therein,
is the tomb of the Father of Our Coun-
try, an inspiration for every pilgrim.
Around it marshal the ideals of that
great age which first flung cloft the
standards Of the nation. All about us
are memorials, -milestones
in our nations history. It is fitting
that, here at the foot of the main mast,
within the shadows of the national
capitol, of the Washington monument
and the Lincoln memorial, VIC draw
apart to Arlington and, amid the silent
chambers of the illustrious dead and
the stones carved with the names
great in American history, pay our
need Of honor to their memory and
dwell space upon the meaning of
Memorial day, a day of closer union,
when the hearts of the nation, made
one by sacrifice, purified by the blasts
of war, mediate with patriotic devo-
ton upon our beloved country. Unit
ed as never before by the comming-
ling Of the blood Of gallant sons of
north and south; the infantry from
"Alabam," backed by the 151st artil-
lery from Minnesota; Dixie, shoulder
to shoulder with Maine, and Wisconsin
and California-all proud to claim the
title, "Yanks." The veteran of the
blue and veteran of the grey gave to
the khaki his well-beloved son. Today,
welded by the common sacrifice, there
is no north, there is no south, but a
United States of America. The SOL
der of the revolution founded our
country. The veterans of the civil
war preserved it. Strong hearts of
army, navy and marine knitted the
bonds of our union and made real the
hopes and dreams Of our forefathcrs.
The soldiers of the world war, as in
the Spanish war, but yesterday again
left our bounds to crusade overseas
for the integrity of our flag. Not to
aggrandize ourselves or extend our
territory. Not for aggression or for
spoils. We wanted nothing, but that
liberty might live-that the brother
hood Of man might continue to adj
vance.
"Our boys arrived in France not
moment too soon. Paris had been Or
dered evacuated. Had Paris fallen,
France must have fallen, for Paris is
the heart Of France. France down the
English would have been driven into
the channel. Italy must have sue
cumbed, and the kaiser would have
been in possession of Europe. German
patrols had been captured within six
miles of Paris. American soldiers
had been considered up to this time,
for lack of training, unfit for front
line duty. But now, since Paris al
ready seemed lost, the only hope was
to throw the raw American troops
against the keen, tried edge of the in
vaders to impede their progress, while
behind them the veteran French troops
reformed their lines for last stand
Of defense before the doomed city.
"The morning came with wind and
rain, and the German hordes, confident
of victory, headed by the Prussian
guard, began their advance against
their new and scorned enemy, who
had never known the smoke of battle,
much less the hideous gas, the mon
ster guns, the curtains Of fire and the
shell barrage. To the surprise CT the
world, they not only held but turned
back the heretofore invinciblc Prus-
sian guard and taught the allies and
their enemy that the Germans could
be defeated. Wherever our flag rose
there followed victory, victory, victory
the Mouse, San Mihiel, the Argonne,
the 'armisticc. Individual intelligence
and soul power had predominated over
the unquestioning obedience and disci-
pline which heretofore had been the
paragon of soldicry.
"Thcir resourcefulness under dan
ger, their idealism and enthusiasm
proved them soldiers by inheritance.
They showed forth the best traditions
of America in their courage, their
drive, their ardor, their devotion. Just
plain American boys, who acknowl-
edge no master, but with a potential
that would have been forever un-
tapped and unsupported if they had
not CHANGED upon the day of great
things. Every man an officer, able
to act quick in pinch, rcsourceful,
brave. Once the great war machine
got across and under way it was VIC
tory, victory for the American boys,
and, through their victory, victory for
the world. I was in France during
July and August. I talked with Of
ficers and men of every nationality
participating in that great war, and
all agreed that there were none bet
ter than the American soldier.
If I had but one word with
which to describe the American SOL