The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-05-13

81 grown
Memorial Day will be observed this year at the
very ends of the earth In the eight American
war cemeteries in Europe flowers will be strewn
and tribute paid by eloquence in France, Belgium
and England. Closest to memories the
heroes of the World war and the Spanish
American war, for in these fell our brothers and
fathers and husbands. But what of our grand
fathers? Shall these later conflicts terrible as
they were, dim memory of those heroes of
1906? They fought battle after battle on home
ground in four years of warfare more awful more
soulrending to Americans of that time, than the
far more brief and far further removed warfare
of 1918.
Sixty-one years have passed since peace was
made between the North and the South. More
than million boys in blue and force of 175,0O0
in gray set out for home sixty-one years ago this
month. OF these, both Blue and Gray scarcely
10000 are with us Memorial Day, 1926 APP
proaches
With the swift passing of these veterans we
may write fms to records of public service as
notable In peace as in war, says the New York
Times For the men who fought for the North
or the South have played leading parts in bring
ing about the present unity and prosperity of our
country, South or North they have steered the
course of the political and economic life of the
nation through it's greatest period of growth
They, like the nation, themselves united.
For years both camps have made moves to
strengthen North and South fellowship. BY 1895
good feeling had been restored sufficiently for the
Grand Army of the Republic to hold its annual
national encampment south of the Mason-DixOn
line Northern veterans went to Louisville Ky
and that city made every effort to show them true
southern hospitality. Forever memorable in
American history will be the welcome of the
men of the North by the people Of the South
The North also showed its good feeling in 1917.
when the remnants of Lees army took the
its great avenues guests. Only two years before
nearly 10000 Union men had returned to Wash
ington to march they once marched before
President johnson and General Grant This time
the drummer boys were whlskered and gray the
once erect soldiers bent, their firm step
had become weary and slow but they marched
just the same in their old uniforms and carrying
their old flags
The Wisconsin Eighth infantry even brought its
mascot that had gone through the war, "Old Abe"
the eagle now stuffed and mounted
Then, two years after that celebration, the
survivors of the Confederate army paraded over
the same route reviewed by the same cheering
crowds. Old wounds were healed indeed. dele
CATION from the G. A. r. brought its respects and
United States flag, which the commander in
chief of the Confederate veterans ordered hung
with the Stars and Bars. And when the South
erners went to the field of Gettysburg next day to
unvel a statue of Lee many of their former
foemen went with them and stood with heads
bowed in reverence through the ceremony.
AS the ranks grow thinner the disposition to
forget the old bitterness increases. AT the G. A. R.
encampment at Attleboro Mass. In 1923, gray
mingled with red white and blue in the decora-
lions of the town. and Captain Bishop, Confed-
crate veteran of Petersburg Va. was received into
honorary membership in the northern organiza-
ton. At the funeral of General Sherman, Confed-
crate veterans living in New York attended in
body Similar exchanges of courtesy have gone
on ever since. Both sides join in exercises on bat
tlefelds, North or South Captured battle flags are
returned In many parts of the South Memorial
Day is observed at the same time as in the North.
Through four long years the armies of both
sides went through trial By fire and sword by
hunger and prison camp and scourge. The sur
vivors were tested men, trained to take up the
burdens Of peace To those who had commanded
In war fell the mantle of leadership afterward.
Even to those who had fought as privates came
leadership Of a distinct sort. Through the '70s
and the sos, and even down to the present CEN
fury the counsel of the veterans was weighty in
every community action. In all parts Of the coun-
try and in all vocations of the COS were
prominent.