Gunnison news-champion., 1924-06-06
MEMORIAL DAY ADDRESS
BY JUDGE CLIFFORD II. STONE
CONTINUED from Page Onel


And these khaki-clad veterans arc
beginning To realize the necessity of
the reconsecration of Memorial Day.
Already there are 25o.oOO World War
service men in graves in this country
and in France, and in the past year
alone 26,000 names have been added
to the roll Of the dead. The number
dying each year will continue to in
crease, so that by 1850 the number
answering taps annually will exceed
$4,000. Before them now lies the
long vista of the years which stretch
ed before the Civil War veterans in
1870. fifty odd years ago, but their
ranks, too, are thinning and must at
last vanish.
on this Memorial Day we are re-
minded that IN the year that has pass
ed since we gathered here on a similar
occasion two men whom we honored
as chief executive of the Republic have
died. One ~ them. Warren @ Hard
Ing. f"il while on duty in the midst OF
the battling probiems of reconstruc-
ton period. HIS deviation To the task
entrusted to him and his great kindly
heart. calls forth our highest tribute
:aThe other was our war president.
Woodrow "Nson. cDmriander-in-chi.r :
Of the armies who crossed the seas as
. crusaders TO establish in the world a
great principle with no material gain
. ibt ltls country ~hlCh sent them forth
II was fhis president who said on Menu
orlal Day in 1919. as he stocd among
the graves OF American dead In
by the constitution of our great
country was the chief
OF these men ] advised IN. Congress
20 declare that state Of war existed.
sent these lads over here to die"
And then he said: Here stand |. con-
secrated to the spirit OF the men who
were once my comrades, and who are
now gone. and who left me under
And be 1t said for Mr.. Wilson that
he did remain faithful to these men
and their cause. and he fell broken
trymen his idea of an organization
which would make secure the peace
| for which these comrades OF his had
! fallen.
1t Is gratifying TO reflect that each
, succeeding struggle of this country on
the neid of battle has pointed the way
we brought forth Government for
! free men. then we tested this govern
| ment in war for its preservation, and
last In our day we find this great. free
nation espousing the cause OF human
liberty everywhere In this day OF
political and economic strife. We owe
| II to the men who fought from WASH
| ington TO Parshing. and to the memory
| Of those who paid to the utmost on the
| neld OF battle. to take up something of
! the idoaiism for which they strug-
1
| which launched America In the World
War. II sometimes seems that we are
| forgetting the crusaders of 1917 and
1915 and their cause a.,
There is one thing we know Out
| of the struggles OF the past we md
| in the year 1924 the United States OF
America the greatest and most favored
nation under the sun IL ts you and i.
| citizens of this nation. who are par
| taking OF the fruits of this distinction
The whole world Is turning toward the
i Il III. .. Nryt. ertH
and storm have been held high and
passed on to us by those who occupy
soldier graves today. 1t Is for the liv-
| ing to carry on. Are we going TO ds
TO the outstretched hands of all hum
anity? This place in the sun whaci
| this nation enjoys in the year Isz'
| carries with IL terrible responsibility
| one which can only be borne by n
! people with an outlook as broad as the
| earth itself and an idealism as nne
| as that which inspired America TO send
| her sons across the seas in 1917 and
| 1918.
| This is day of treasured memories
| II has an outstanding martial air: but
il is day when we call up tender
| memories of our associations witt
those who were near and dear to US
re-live in memory the yesterdays wher
those who are gone walked with us or
this earth.
1t is said that time is a great solvent
1t explains many things which we dc
| not understand in the sadness of tn,
hour: IL softens the bitterness of strife
and it mellows the experience ol
human life. Time and common cause
have almost eliminated the difference,
between the North and the South
President Coolidge, referring to thu
gray-clad soldiers of the South recent
ly. paid them beautiful tribute which
may be said of all our dead:
All about u.s. he said, sleep thos,
OF many different beliefs and man,
Divergent actions But America claim
them alt Her flag foats over them
Her government protects them. The,
all rest in the same divine peace"