The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-05-25
ALL BELOVED BY
GRATEFUL NATION
Tributes of Memorial Day Shared
by Each Defender of
the Country.
Reverence Alike for Those VINO Be
gan and Those Who Completed
the Work of Freedom-Graves
in France Cared For.

The year 1918 brought the signifi-
n of Memorial day directly home
to the present generation. The hero
ism of the sacrifices of 1868 had not
been forgotten, but to the great ma
jority of Americans it was merely a
tale, not an experience. After 1913
there were few Americans who had
not suffered personal loss or bereaye-
ment. The real meaning of "dying for
ones country was impressed on the
consciousness of the people. The sue
ceeding Memorial days have found the
nation honoring the memory of the
young men who gave their lives in
France and Flanders, and revering,
with new sincerity, the men who, more
than half a century ago, died that
America might live.
Americas Part in the War.
Two outstanding facts of the World
war are universally conceded. Amer
ica's participation and Americas sac
riice were small in comparison with
the labor and sacrifice of the nations
Wlitl IOuSll thlOuSh dh Liz OACONJ
years of the struggle. Yet, during the
brief period of American participa-
ton, America fought as hard as any
other ~belligerent nation, bore her full
share of responsibility and burdens,
and thus, coming to the front when the
other nations were weary, actually
won the war. 1t is generally believed
+hot I,rt fo,. +ho Auanriaao fhn
German offensives of March-June,
1918, would have carried Prussianism
to victory. America, therefore, with
out boasting, and with full realization
that her sacrifice vas small in COM
parison with the sacrifices of France
and England and Belgium and Serbia
and Roumania, and even of Russia,
car cherish the qualification of having
actually won the war by intervention
at the most critical moment. Belgi-
um's immortal heroism saved civiliza-
ton in 1914; American altruism and
devotion saved democracy in 1918.
But the story was not begun at
Chateau-Thierry. 1t was not ven be-
gun more than a year before, when the
United States, driven beyond the
IRENE limit of patience, formally de-
clared the existence of a state of war.
1t was begun more than fifty years
before, when the young manhood of
North marched forth at Lincoln's
call. What was done in 1866 made
possible the elimination of 1918. 1t
is, really, all a part of the same glo-
rfnY,, eto,.u without ChialZorao,rn g.
there would have been no Cantigny;
the campaign in the Wilderness was
the way for the Argonne.
In Honored Graves.
All over the United States the !
of true American men, graves
lew and still unclaimed by nature,
md graves of long ago, leveled, per-
laps, by times mercy and strewn with
by natures own hand, are hon
red today by those whose lives have h
cen made livable by the nobility of y
hose who have died. They gave their &
II, and today we give our very little.
life was as precious to them as it is
D us nothing that we car give can
e ever a weak beginning of their stu
gift. Nor do they demand
reat recompenSe: gratitude and hon.
ge, and a moments pause in the mad
hirl of life to bestow a thought and
flower on the graves of those whose
yes were the price of our happiness.
In France, too; and on the dike-cut
elds of Flanders, our heroes rest.
ear not that these boys of ours, who
e so far from us today, will be
or forgotten. France, saved
ON utter destrut ton, is still dumbly
ateful for the miracle, and genera
On after generation will weep at the
ayes of the men who came from
stayed in France forever.
lere, where they made their high sac
ice, they are surely at peace; and
t even the sorrow of the loved oneS
er there whose gratitude, though i'm N
is greater than we who had |
glimpse of wars horrible presence /
n comprehend.
In America there Is one Memorial I
y for the boys in blue and gray and \
e boys in khaki, and there is COM b
IN reverence for those who began 4
d those who completed the work Of 4
'edom. But the day has come to b
We more than an American signifi- 4
ace. Far beyond the Atlantic it Il
ans as much as it means right here /
home, and it has become, far more 4
lily than u nations birthday, an i
.servation of worldwide gratitude to Z
! strong-sinewed and strong-hearted 4
public of the cleaning West. 4