Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1921-10-28
SOLDIER PENS FAREWELL
TO HIS SWEET MOTHER

Recently the body of John Robbins
Burkett, who was killed on the bat
tie front in France, was inferred in
Riverside cemetery, Jackson, Tenn,
his old home. John was the son Of
Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. N. Burkett, now
of Dallas, Texas, and was neph-
ew of ]. M. Robbins, a prominent
travelling salesman of Jackson.
Harvey Hogg, of Nashville, per-
sonal friend of Johns father, ]. w.
N. Burkett, has sent the Periscope
copy of letter written by John
to his mother on the night before
he was killed in battle. In note
to the Periscope, Mr.. Hogg says !:
Wouldn't it be glorious if the mod
ern mothers could read this letter
and let it find Judgement in their
hearts and minds and emulate the
example of this wonderful mother
of John's?" The letter follows:
II have debated long on whether
or not to write this letter, but be-
lieve l should, for you will not re-
ceive it unless l am killed. have
never forgotten the framed letter
hanging in the Alamo from boy,
condemned to death by the Mexi-
cans, to his mother, and written the
night before he was to die, and |
have always felt that no matter
what kind of a life he had lived,
there was a saving grace in that
missive. May it be so with me.
1T is useless to try to write down
how much you have meant to me,
how your love has drawn me back
from many temptations, and your
ambition for me has spurred me on
in endeavoring to reach the places
you wanted me to climb. l have
achieved little in this life till now,
but it has not been from lack of en-
deavor, and most certainly not from
lack of encouragement and help
from you. No one ever had a bet
ter mother than you have been to
me, for you and / have been chums,
comrades, sweethearts, and | have
often wondered how | would ever.
be if you should be taken from me.
There has never been an inspiration
Or a thought but that you were part
of it, and whatever of good may
have done is because of the example
and teaching you and papa have
given me.
ut may be hard to be cut off in
the golden morning of life, but do
not grieve for me, mother, dear, for
would that l could die 10 times
instead of once, if it could be for
my country. | do not fear to die,
for l will cross over the river and
lie down in the shade of the trees
and await you there.
Through your love and teaching
I l am prepared to die, or rather feel
that there is no death, only trans
ition to the more beautiful life.
"War is, of course, hardening.
Already l have seen death in many
forms and have slept on the battle
field with the fallen all around me,
but never yet have l gazed on a
fallen soldier of ours without feel
ing that his death was glorious and
the sight of the dead had made me
realize more keenly that this fleshly
habitation is temporal, that there
must be another and spiritual one,
and to put off one for the other is
not to be feared.
"When you read this be assured
that l fell with my face toward the
enemy, as becomes my forebears,
and that in my heart, if not on my
life, was that favorite quotation of
mine, 4 have fought a good fight, l
have finished my course, I have
kept the faith; hence forth there is
laid up for me crown of righteous
ness"
"Your devoted son,
JOHN ROBBINS BURKETT."