The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-30
SACRIFICE OF DEAD KELLY PLEA
IN AFTERNOON SERVICE AT GRAVE

Trials and sacrifices of the World
war have brought only understand
ing of 3he great heroism Of the vet
Grams Of the Civil war and added to
the patriotic devotion of the present
generation, Harry F. Kelly, La
Sale County states attorney, said
this morning in his talk at the
court house square.
IL was an inspiring lesson from
the ideals of the day and in stirring
oratory and forceful phrase, he
pointed the common purpose which
stronger than ever united the World
war veteran with those of the other
wars in self and even supreme sac
r1fIce that America might continue
In part, Mr.. Kelly said:
To-day our country is at peace
with the world and the last war,
like the first, has become but a
part of history. The great armies,
the pride Of the republic, that car
ried liberty's banner so triumphant
ly to victory have been disbanded.
There exists, however, an army
whose numbers no presidential
proclamation can reduce, no gen
eral order disband. A century or
more separates the oldest from the
youngest soldier in it's ranks, and
an examination of its roll call dis
closes grandfather, father and son.
That army can be found today in
most every cemetery within this
broad land, and the white stones
and little white crosses here and
across the sea are the signs of their
camping grounds. Our hearts, our
love, our thoughts are today with
that army, the army of the soldier
dead.
This solemn and somewhat sad
day when our thoughts are all with
our soldier dead has always meant
much to the American citizen, but
think since the days of the World
war it has had for this generation
a more tender meaning, a more
personal significance, a closer grip
on us all
Present Adds TO Past Glory.
The sacrifices of the present
generation have awakened in US all
not only a love for them, but also
a greater love for those whose sac
rifice years ago gave the boys of
OONoy oONA d 1GhO " N6ISll0
We draw no distinction be-
tween those who died at Gettysburg
and those who fell on a foreign
field at Chateau Thierry and Sois-
sons. Without distinction of ma
tioEafity, of race, of religion, they
gave their lives to their country.
Without distinction of religion, of
race or nationality We garland their
graves today. Death has given the
same brevet to all; nature has been
equally tender to the graves of all
and our love knows no distinction.
l can speak of the life, devotion and
sacrifice on the field of battle of
these later soldier dead, for l was
/ with them in those days of sacrifice
and pain and death.
Theirs was a soldiers hardship,
which is not confined to the suf-
ferings inflicted by powder and
steel. Few outside the ranks have
! endured days of work with little or
no sleep. Few beside the soldier
have felt that weakening of the
body, that burning of the throat
caused by days of little or no water
or food. But all these were en-
dured cheerfully by them in the
face of constant death. For what
not for personal gain, but merely
that you and l and this country
should remain secure and free.
War to them was not a matter
of flags, of drums, of romance.
Many today still think Of war from
romantic standpoint, thinking
only of mans natural love for ad-
venture and travel. Those mis-
guided ones think of the soldier on
| the battlefield as a creature who
has lost all value of life, dominat-
ed by one desire, and that a raging