Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-06-01
Observance of Memorial Day in De-
corah Was Carried Out With
Fine Program by Ameri-
can Legion.
COMRADE CARL NELSON
IN STRONG ADDRESS
Large Audience Attended the Exer-
cises in the Opera House.
Legion Commander Oscar
NOrgaard Con-
Quoted Cere-
monies.
Continued from page one)


the act of performing herioc deeds
Leaving widows, orphans, sweet
hearts and other dear ones to mourn
their loss. As time goes on the
fruits of their heroic deeds will live
and grow in value not to us alone
but to the entire world Their deeds
not merely attract our attention at
this time but cause us to marvel
and wonder. The nation itself is
their greatest monumental north
and south united in indissoluble
bonds, for it was decreed by Him
who governs all our affairs that our
nation should live and again be-
come mighty-mighty by the blood
Of a million heroes, who welded the
sword in order to achieve a just
and lasting peace. The prejudices
of war are long since forgotten and
today when the boys in gray be-
hold the flag-now, our flag and their
1ag-they know that had the cause
represented by that flag failed, they
would never have seen the dawn
of a righteous peace, never have
beheld the glory of our great nation,
never have been truly and surely
free.
In passing judgment on that war,
cruel and horrible as it was, we are
led to say it was inevitable, and we
cannot pay too great a tribute to
the men who fought and preserved
the Union that you and | might
inherit the priceless treasure of free
dom and the fairest land of all the
earth.
The Grand army of the Republic
will soon live only in history, but we
shall feel more indebted to our coun-
try for having known these men, men
VINO IN their springtime of life gave
up the pleasures and comforts of
home, babe farewell to their loved
ones and went forth to do or to die
Tor the eternal right. Ere long
they will be with US no more in per-
son, but their dauntless spirit will
continue to live for it has entered
INTO the very soul of the nation
which became regenerated and en-
nobled through their efforts.
With the passing of the Grand
Army of the Republic a new host
makes its appearance to carry on
the spirit of national sacrifcc-the
soldier of the world war. Wei the
veterans of Americas latest
struggle, bow, in profound recos
---ss0r DeTOre you grant ola men OF to
for the services you rendered in guild
ing America safely through the
shoals of Civif-strife and thus in
spring US with a greater incentive
TO be watchful of our country's well
fare. God grant that when we in
turn must take our departure we
bequeath unimpaired to the genera
tiOns that will succeed US the pfeci-
Gus heritage we have received and
which but yesterday we fought to
preserve.
The memories of our country's most
recent struggle are still fresh in oul
minds so that it is unnecessary to at
tempt to review them. We were
suddenly confronted by a monster
of an earlier and darker age. VIZ
had but one choice as a self-respect
ing, liberty loving people, and tina
was to align ourselves with the con
tenders for the right. Perhaps othe
nations thought US slow to act, bu
when once the ire of America wa
aroused, there could be no peac
until the German idea of conques
dust. The force of our arms turne
despair into victory and brought t
a close the worlds greatest tragedy
though it left a heritage of broke
ties, blasted hopes, sorrow, deaf
and appalling desolation, it has lei
another and a brighter aspec
There has been welded into ever
soldiers life into the memory {
every fallen hero the strength an
glory of patriotism, of sacrifice, ar
of human sympathy that is in keel
ing with the records of these gran
old men and their departed comrade
The real burden of sacrifice fell {
the soldiers for their sacrifice il
volved life itself, but in awardir
credit for our success we thank I
single class either, soldier or civilia
but rather give the laurels TO Anne
lea as a nation. We who wore Il
uniform do not wish to be look,
upon as a distinct class of Amer
cans aside from those who stayed
home. We merely did our duty al
if ever our country needs US in d
same capacity again, though / no
she never will, we are ready for Il
sacrifice as we were in the years in
past and as our fathers have be,
before US.
1t is to be regretted that the
were those amongst US who failed
realize their responsibility to the
country, or were otherwise unwillil
TO aid her or even to wish her we
Surely they must lack some essenti
trait of character that we eXpe
to find in a man, and if they cam
love their native land they cam
truly love anything else.
In rejecting upon the price of o
heritage we must not fail to pay
tribute to the American wome
aside from our gallant nurse
Theirs was not the sacrifice of t
comforts of home or the hardshi
and danger of battle but instead
womans silent anguish of giving
a loved one. We know not the 50
rows of our gold star mothers w
never again will caress the boy WI
but a few short years ago was ;
infant in her arms. But she wi