Norwich bulletin., 1922-06-15
NORWICH ELKS PAY TRIBUTE 10
 FLAG IN IMPRESSIVE EXERCISES

giving that we are permitted to i've and | prosper in the greatest country and under | t le most beautiful flag that was ever flung | 10 the breezes:
 It was from this flag that the immortal 1 George. Washington. and his band of Con 1 tinentais gathered the inspiration and courage that enabled them, to wrest lib- | arty from the British. In 1872, 1t was l under this flag that a struggling nation made itself mistress of the seas. In '61 that grim period of internal strife, the blue and the gray were sanctifed and in- terwoven with the Stars and Stripes to make us a bigger and better nation In 1898, 1t was under this flag that our sword was unsheathed in the cause of humanity, and again in 1915 at the Mex ican border.
 Our hearts were with the government in the great World war. when we made the Declaration of Independence the bill of rights of mankind It would seem that each successive step in progress, each bat tie fought, each victory won, was fore ordained, was leading to our ultimate part in the great World war. During the summer of 1914, when trouble in.s the Balkan States predicted g war between the great nations of the world, to the the men who were familiar with the cur rent of the worlds events, to the average mind 1t meant nothing. It seemed in- credible that civilized nations would re- sort to the terrible consequences of war. But the Central powers hurled themselves upon their neighbors in an imperial plan for the conquest of the world. With the first declaration of war came the crime that turned all nations of the world against Germany, and the hope was born that this powerful nation would be crush ed. This crime was the overrunning of Belgium, happy peaceful, prosperous country, with the excuse that a sacred | treaty meant nothing but a scrap of paper. However, over night that valiant 1 little country turned from it's peaceful pursuits to that of war, and gathered it's gallant army in front of the Hun hordes and stemmed the onrush long enough to permit England and France to take the ] field, and though the line extending from the Alps to the Seine, for four long years l swayed and wavered, 1t never broke
 | Then came the cry that touched the hearts of men, the cry from Flanders i field, the appeal to brotherhood. The field 1 of Flanders was turned into a fierce bat tle-ground of war. and the flames of royal ambition leaped on until they final iy licked our shores and took the lives of our men, women and children.
 Then America woke up and cast her weight on the side of righteousness, and called for her sons. They came from all parts of the land to do. dare and die for the flag. and to be for which 1t stands. 1 The nation became the militant champion ! ot universal freedom. and sent forth her men to fight on land and sea In the | olive drab, and blue and the green, which i went to make up the nations forces, f there were 60,000 members of the Beneyo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. actuat- ed by the most sublime of motives Elk sailors guarded the seas over which Elk soldiers went to fight under alien skies and pick up the torch that was thrown to them on Flanders field They pressed on and on until the mighty German em- plre, like Lucifer. fell, never to rise again. But the price of liberty was paid in death. Millions of men died To-
 night the larks are again singing over
 Flanders field, but those who cannot hear
 them lie between the crosses. row on
 row with their comrades of other lands,
 sleeping. as they do in Italy, and under
 the water of the seas. To the members of
 our beloved dead we owe duty to com
 piete the task they sanctihed. The white
 crosses in France, standing as symbols of
 brotherhood in common purpose against
 militarism and oppression, eloquently cry
 out to us. Are we a people living up
 to our obligation? The war is over the
 Hun beaten. but is the victory won ? No
 Nor will it be until the United States
 gives to the waiting world some concrete evidence that 1t meant the fine words ut
 tered when 1t engaged in the hostilities
 The victory will not won until we as-
 sume our obligations to humanity: lin-
 til we show by our actions to the foreign
 CT. already here or seeking admission 1 that they are truly welcome here that
 this country and it's flag stand for hu. manity. charity and brotherly love: that
 we are truly American citizens who be. , lieve in and fully practice the American. , is about which we so proudly boast
 Closed With America
 The programme came to close witl
 the singing of America, led by the band
 The exercises were carried out unde , arrangements made by committee con . sisting of P. E: R., James P Hayes Charles F Whitney. John M Swahn. Le , Olevson. William Fitzgerald and Law , renee Millea.