The Coconino sun., 1923-06-01
MEMORIAL SERVICES
AT CATHOLIC CHURCH
SUNDAY IMPRESSIVE


The G. A. R., American Legion, Span
ish-American War Veterans, Women S
Auxiliary of the American Legion and
masse. An inspiring address by the
pastor, Rev. FIR. G. Vabre, three hymns
by the children's choir-a National
Anthem, Hymn to the Dead and Song
of Praise-and a prayer for the civil
authorities constituted the program.
Padre Vabre said in part:
Now, therefore, O my sons, be ye
jealous for the law, and give your
lives for the covenant of your faith
ers. And call to remembrance the
works of the fathers, which they have
done in their generations, and you
shall receive great glory and an ever
lasting name. Il Maccabees, IL, 50,51.)
Veterans of three wars and friends:
Those beautiful words are taken
from the farewell address of Matha-
thias to his sons who were to con-
tinue the struggle against the foes of
their country At that time the jew
ish nation was experiencing the worst
dangers in her history. It's very ex-
istence was being threatened by the
invading armies of Antiochus. In
spite of the hopeless fight waged by
the Jews their great leader never de-
SPARED. Until the time of his death
his courage and confidence in God
had overcome all odds. Now that the
hour for him to lay down the burden
had arrived he called his sons togeth-
er around his couch and delivered to
them a farewell address breathing
the deepest patriotism and well cal
culated to inspire the noble souls and
the stout hearts of his sons with un-
dying courage and hopeful persever-
ance. 1t is from that sublime testa-
ment of the dying Mathathias that the
words above quoted to you are taken.
/ find them most opportune and edify
ing on this occasion when we are here
gathered to commemorate with rever-
ent gratitude and patriotic pride the
undying deeds of those armies of the
American republic which on three
most solemn and vital hours in the
existence of this great nation of ours
went to battle against the foes of the
union, the extortioners of weak races
and the hordes of modern Attila.
To you it was given to survive the
dangers of the battlefield and to re-
main behind to keep fresh and alive
the memory of your comrades fallen
on the field of honor. In order not
to fail in that duty to them you have
come here together again and done us
the honor of joining with you in the
prayerful and inspirational ceremony
which marks the yearly recurrence of
Memorial day.
Dear friends, civil governments, in
their first institution, are voluntary
associations for mutual defence. To
obtain the desired end it is absolutely
consider himself obliged to submit his
private opinion and actions to the
judgment of the greater number of
his associates. Therein lies the pro-
found reason for devotion to our coun-
try. Therein is to be found the main
root of the beautiful tree of patriot
ism. 1t is because that fundamental
tenet of political science has ever been
present in the mind of Americans that
our forefathers under the inspired
leadership of Washington were able
to establish the greatest republic of
modern times; that you, veterans of
the Civil war, answered the call to
arms of Lincoln and saved the union
from fatal perils; that you, compan-
ions of Teddy and sailors of Dewey,
brought low the pride of arrogant
Spain; that you, lately returned from
over-there, too young to be called vet
Grams, responded eagerly to the orders
of President Wilson and never sheath
ed the sword placed in your hands till.
the contempter of honor and civiliza-
ton had been driven from his throne
and made to feel the resistless
talons of the screaming American
eagle.
1t has been said that the future of
a nation depends upon the deep respect
and the intelligent understanding of
its past. In the words of the great
Napoleon: "The power of a people is
made up of its history" What other
people can boast of a more glorious
history than that which you and your
slain comrades have contributed to
make for this, our nation? Treasure
it, study it and live by it all We who
hear me. Through memory a man
who has reached span of four scores
and ten possesses testimony unto
himself that regardless of all the vic
issitudes of his life he is still the same
identical man who was once only a.
helpless babe. History plays that very
same part in the existence of a ma
tion. Hence the vital Importance of
keeping always alive the interest in
the doings and events that have mark
ed the growth of our nation from the
time it shed its swaddling clothes un-
til it reached the full development at
tanned after glorious career of we'll
nigh one and a half centuries.
Remember the solemn words of the
father of our country: "This govern
ment, the offspring of our own choice,
and unawed, adopted up
on full investigation and mature de-
completely free in its prin-
ciples, in the distribution of it's pow
ers uniting security with energy, and
containing within itself a provision
for it's own amendment, has a just
claim to your confidence and support.
There is our national birth certifi- |
cate. Can any American help but be
proud of it and keep it always close
to his heart?