The Holly chieftain., 1923-05-24
sy JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN

ey JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN
~ PRTT of Memorial Day. 1923!
erRend We all know the purpose of Memorial
day. We Americans assemble to COM
EMS memorate our Nations soldier dead-to
tfSNSS express our love and gratitude for their
&$Vzl8b service and devotion by strewing fow-
1NH2M ers on their final resting places by re
0h w counting their deeds OF vaior and patri-
otism by seeking new and deeper IN
derstanding Of this national holiday,
sacred sanctifed, glorifed-
In one way 1t Is a day Of celebration. OF hero
worship unstinted and unashamed. We won our In
dependence by fighting for it. We are not VAT
like nation. but we are fighting nation There
Ii no fighting man like the American fighting man.
The Star Spanged Banner has never been lowered
In defeat. So we celebrate the deeds Of our fight
Ing men.
But we do not assemble to awaken bitter mem
ories of battle and slaughter. We do not meet to
rekndle the yengeful hres Of hate and passion
We do not gather to exult over the defeated. We
do not come together to glorify war or to e1alt
militurism. We meet rather to dedicate anew the
power and wealth and strength Of the nation to
liberty. humanity and justice.
sea-nghts and iand-ashts grim and great
Fought to make and to save the State;
Weary marches and sinking ships:
Cheers OF victory dying lips:
Days OF plenty and years of peace;
March of strong lands swift increase;
Equal justice. right and law:
Stately honor and reyerent awe;
Sign of nation. great and strong.
Ta ward her people from foreign wrong:
Pride and Glory and honor-aH
Live in the Colors to stand or fall
This is part of what Memorial day means to the
good American.
Too far away Flanders nelds
Upon his grave to lay
My roses and forget-me-nots.
My rosemary and bay:
scarlet poppy my breast
Will speak Memorial day!
Many poppy will be worn in America on Me
mortal day. There eight national cemeteries In
Europe, six Of which are In France, one In Bel
GUM and one In England. There are 80 O5S7 bodies
at present In Europe. distributed as follows:
Meuse- e-Argonne American cemetery, No. 1892:
Romagne- sous-Montfaucon (Meuse), France Ii, ,93S.
Unknown, 4S3
st. Minie American cemetery, No. 1888; Thiau-
court, Meurtheet- Moselle. France 4,231. Unknown,
l57.
somme American cemetery, No. $50 Bony, Aisne,
France, $50. Unknown, 154.
Oise-Aisne American cemetery No. COS: Ser
inges-et Nesles, Aisne France, e,071. Unknown
COS.
Aisne-Marne American cemetery, No. 17G4: Bel
ieau, Asne, France, 2220. Unknown, 224
Suresnes American cemetery, No. "a: Suresnes
Paris France. 1,407 Unknown. O.
Flanders Field American cemetery, No. 1859 !:
waereghem, Belgium. 1856. Unknown, 90
Brookwood American cemetery, No. 1O7-E;
Brookwood, Surrey, England 435 Unknown, CO.
Many Of these American graves overseas-per-
haps all--win be strewn with flowers. American
Initiative will do much. Admiring md grateful
hearts will take many Frenchman. Belgian and
Brton to these graves with blossoms 1t will be
long before Europe forgets the American fighting
men Who won the war? Never mind; there is
glory enough for all. Just the same the American
doughboy left his Impress. France may be irri-
tated with America Just now, but French mothers
are still telling their children Of the great size of
be Americans. Of their tender care Of the young.