Palisadian., 1925-07-10

Palisades July celebration, divid-
ed between morning parade of chill
dren marching with flags, and many
in costume, with decorated autos; ex-
ercises at the school and wonderful
pyrotechnic display in the evening at
the Fairgrounds, was an overwhelm-
ing success. Quite a long sentence as
a starter, but it pretty nearly tells
the whole story of Independence Day,
or Liberty Day, in a nutshell. AS an
occasion fitting the spirit of ideallsm
guiding a free people in time of peace,
what Palisade contributed as village
should be an example to larger and
more pretentious communities. Peo-
pie of good taste and wide observa-
ton didn't hesitate to call it the
finest July 4 they ever saw, and there
We're many of these. 1t is fact that
while Palisade is only twenty years
old this year it has had twenty July
4 celebrations. Many of these have
been more or less pretentious, and
some have been away out and beyond
the ordinary. But in class, in COM
pleteness, in well-rounded thought in
its presentation, the July 4 celebra-
ton of 1925 stands out head and
shoulders above any of the others.
People who have heretofore looked
upon the July celebrations as more
or less mechanical form of honoring
the natal day of American liberty
changed their minds this time and
said their hats were off to the spirit
of the village that could put its best
foot forward and do a turn like this
1926 effort in Palisade.
And that's enough introduction to
an account of a village show of real,
honest-to-goodness patriotism.
The parade was formed at Bluff
road and Palisade avenue, where the
underground had been cut down by
the borough on the vacant lots so the
children could gather on safe ground.
The starting hour, set for 1O:30 a.
M, was about on time. The children,
encouraged by fine prizes to appear in
appropriate costumes, were out in
large numbers, and made pictur-
esque parade, with the decorated au-
tomobiles, about third of mile
long, stretched out along the road
ways. 1t made very picturesque
appearance and the costumes excited
much comment.
At the school the fine crowd gath
cred around the 1agpole where the
flag was raised with the singing of
'The Star Spangled Banner" led by
Mrs. Houser, Mrs. Harry Clark at the
piano. There was much spirit in the
rendition, after which the gathering
went into the school auditorium
where Senator William B. Mackay
Jr., Judge Cornelius Doremus, Judge
James D. Moore, Mayor Edward A.
White and the Rev. DR.. Floyd Leach
were called on for addresses.
Senator Mackay was the first
speaker, and he made a corking good
talk, emphasizing the importance OF
celebrating July 4 as red letter day
in our history. He was forceful and
made distinctly favorable impress
sion.
Among other things he said: "This
is primarily a day when we recall to
mind Washington, and the day of the
Revolution. We can picture many
familiar scenes in history. Valley
Forge-with it's scenes of suffering
men marching over the frozen ground
and leaving blood-stained footprints
behind them. The scenes on the
Delaware, with the Trenton. Prince
ton and Monmouth battles. The
marching of the troops through
Hackensack to Fort Lee and thence
to the banks of the lordly Hudson.
Finally the surrender at Yorktown,
and the close of the seven years
struggle.
To-day, however, we do honor to
the men who fought in all our wars
to those who fought to abolish slav-
ery-to those in the Spanish-Ameri-
can war, and lastly, to those who
took part in the World war.
"Some paid the supreme sacrifice,
some came back from whose eyes the
light of day has gone forever, and
who never again will behold the beau
ty of trees and flowers, of mothers,
wives and sweethearts. Some came
back safe and sound, and we thank
God they are with us today.
'sLet us hope that those who are
gone are with us in spirit today, for:
"'There is no death, the stars go
down,
To shine upon some fairer shore,
And bright in Heavens jewelled
crown
They shine for evermore.
"'There is no death; the leaves may
fall,
The flowers made fade and pass
away
They only wait through wintry hours
The coming of the May.