Evening star., 1927-05-29
an indissoluble Union today the fair.
S-I.-ans, nf la1,ad cnlliaf1.Iy

an indissoluble Union today the fair
broad sweep of our loved country.
No more, in pride of State and of
State rights, are born the dreams OF
secession when sectional interests loom
large. Federal power has been exalted
nightly; it rises in stupendous
s. angth above the rights of the
States, even as the dome Of the Capt.
tol lifts in overwhelming beauty to.
ward the sky.
What nations strength Is not meas.
ured by the metrical march of soldier
feet? Difficult. sturdy unconquerable
footballs, echoing through the halls of
memory like matchlesS strains of mar
tial music, meant to stir the heart to
ever renewed service to flag and to
country. 1t is on this day of all days,
dewy with the tears of a remembering
people, that one hears the steady tread
of those dead soldiers, marching in the
early dawn to the old battlef1elds
where, amid the corn, among the
trees or through the valleys, the old,
brave deeds are done again, done by
boys whose young eyes loved the flag
they followed more than they priced
length Of days. Whether in COM
mand or in the ranks, theirs Is an
imperishable name and theirs an en-
viable glory.
From sea to sea, and from lakes
to gulf, on this day Of tribute, on
mountain height, in valley depth or
on the broad plains that lie between,
grateful people gathers to do them
honor with song, with speech, with
gifts Of blooms, while above them
once more, like mystic pageant of
courage, are flung the flags they
loved with undaunted loyalty.
They are not dead-these soldiers
OF other years-they lift such tri-
umphant faces beneath the streaming
flags that go straining down the
roadway whose building Is to memory.
They know now the meaning of their
sacrifice. they are strangely serene
and content, knowing that their cup
was filled to the brim out of life's
clear mountain stream Of purposeful
living.
One comes away from the place. of
memory with a glowing pride in his
heart, for he has glimpsed the eterni-
ties. His citizenship has been exalted,
for service to his Nation has been
revealed to him in all it's grace and
dignity. Hence the service Of the
soldier dead is a continuing service,
that OF keeping the torch of living
loyalty Ted and lighted. They are
now, as then. an irresistible force,
planting the flag Of their country in
the hearts Of her citizens. Not only
from the graves comes this lesson
in patriotism; 1t comes also from the
monuments.
Beneath the Capitol's dome Grant.
in imperturbable calm. directs the
field Of war his dashing Cavalry and
dogged Field Artillery supporting
him on either hand. while the unnum-
bered hosts Of Infantry struggle
toward victory. In bronze. yes. but
an epitome of Grants inability to rec.
ognize defeat. Supplementing Grant,
Stands Meade, encircled with the vir.
tues that grow out Of war while war
remains indomitable. Meade wears
the cloak Of war. and one sees his
generals meeting once more in the
midnight conference that decided the
fate Of Gettysburg.
At the same time there ride from
the parks Of Washington mounted
men to the command of troops, Thom-
as Of Chickamauga. Sherman of
Atlanta, Sheridan Of Chattanooga, Nc
Clellan, whom Lee appraised highly,
and others. while Lincoln sits in his
white marble chair areviewing that
far.flung line Of officers and men.
$50 memory sees the wondrous
thing the moment stood too close to
know" while our hands drop flowers
In their footsteps and our hearts sing