New Britain herald., 1926-11-10


 Hohenzollern dream of empire, were 2,0oo,OOO American soldiers; across the sea were an equal num- Der awaiting embarkation.
 With the signing of the armistice, thus officially bringing the great war to close. the pent-up feelings of the people of the world knew no bounds. It Is scarcely necessary to do more than aAude to the ebul- lient rejoicings everywhere appar- ent. The first armistice celebrations were loud outbursts at the achieve ment of peace and victory. No na- tionwide celebration like 1t has ever been recorded.
 Since that day the feeling about armistice day has notably declined. Although everything within reason was promised the boys in khaki when they returned from overseas, they have found that the pristine feeling of qualification and joy is somewhat worn. They have had to fight as a unit for nearly everything they have attained. including the bonus law. So far as celebrating armistice day Is concerned, 1t has dwindled in very many cities, in- cluding New Britain.
 Celebration of armistice day in New Britain last year reached such commercialized ebb that the vet erans of the war were a unit in saying better none at all than that sort. The hint was speedily taken, SO that this year there will be no such parade" as instigated disap- proval last year. And there will be no properly conducted parade, either. Indeed, the celebration of armistice day within the city this year promises to be the quietest since the signing of that historic docu- ment.
 To the men who fought in the war armistice day is the most sacred of the calendar. It Is even more sacred than the Fourth of July, or any other holiday of a secular nature. These veterans had hoped that the nation as whole would have made 8 national holiday of armistice day long before this, but so far 1t has been left to the states, as if that were the proper or ideal way.
 The belief is now current that armistice day will be a national holiday within ten years. This, how ever, is an ardent belief of partisans for an armistice holiday: 1t may not be realized. It must be said that the proposal to make national holi- day has not as yet received the en- thusiastic approval of many con- gressmen, and the opposition, con- posed largely of folk who are claim ing there already are too many holidays" Is strong. Fortunately the veterans, men who risked their lives that people might continue to enjoy holidays as well as other days, are not so "eminently practi- cap' as to think there is no room for an armistice day holiday. They have good and sufficient reasons to think there should be such a day: they will continue to agitate for. 1t.
 That the veterans-whose wish in the matter should be paramount eventually will attain their objective there can be no doubt. The mem- ories of the past, of the days when they braved shot, shell and gas, seem more sacred to them than petty and spacious reasoning about ways and means. They are un. willing to see armistice day decline to mere name. They see a mean ing behind it. one of national con- sequence: a rebirth of national ac- cord, the commemoration of victory, the day when news flashed to the world that all things in the future will be well. or better than they had been for four years.
 The urge to be patriotic in all things should not slow up after eight years. Armistice day is the acme of days for war veterans, and they are not unreasonable to expect citizens generally. for whom they fought--and for whom many of their buddies died-to share their emotions.