Evening star., 1928-05-29
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

In no other country and at no other
period in this country has there ever
| been such an institution as Decoration
day. 1t is now more generally known
as Memorial day" but there are VET
Grams who stu prefer the original name,
Decoration day"--the day when the
decoration for patriotism Is bestowed
upon the last resting places Of soldiers
By the survivors Of the veterans who Of
fered their lives for the country they
loved.
Not all fell in battle: not all fought
for the same cauSe--some we're defend
ers of the Union, one and indivisible, -
some for the Confederacy. but both
we're devoted to what they esteemed the
cause Of patriotism, and today there Is
no class. whether In the North or South
50 ready TO recognize the same spirit OF
genuine patriotism as are the men who
wore the uniform Of their cause.
+ ~
There have been three United States
wars since the Grand Army Of the Re-
public founded Decoration day. The
Spanish and Philippine War veterans
and the World War veterans now Join
with their forefathers Of the Civil War
in honoring. not merely their own de-
ceased comrades. but rather the abstract
which is the same In all the wars of our
country
So the parades on Decoration day.
wherever they uphold the true spirit
of its founders, are not limited now
10 Civil War veterans. but rightly In
ciude all veterans surviving all wars
| In which the cause Of our country
was involved.
In some regions this broadened spirit
has not yet been manifested. In New
York City, for example, there is fric~
| ton because leaders oppose the pres
ence In the parade Of any but ~Ciyil
War veterans. or at least oppose the
presence of World War soldiers who
fought In the World War under the
British flag, although now living in
the United States and members of
| the American Legion. Az result OF
| police interference In restricting the
| parade To the flag Of Old Glory and
It's followers, the friction has become.
| unfortunately. so bitter that the Amer
ican Legion refuses TO participate at
| all.
II would be regrettable, indeed, II,
| through narroWnegs Of Interpretation,
Memorial day. instead OF honoring the
| patriotic nobility OF sacrifice. should be
restricted 10 only one class OF military
!
| OF extinction as 10 living members.
| Already, in many localities, the aged
| veterans OF the Grand Army Of the Re-
| public have abandoned the march alto
| gethfr and must be carried in auto
| mobiles, If they parade at all. 6haii
/ their spirit be no longer the inSpifa-
| ton Of the day when they are passed
over the grand parade to their eternal
resting place?
| II was not 40 in olden time, when the
story written by Str Walter Scott de-
picted the scenes and the spirit Of pa
| tri0ttgm In THE Lady of the Lake. "
| Danger threatened and the leader chiel
| took zip the crosslEt, dipped In blood
and FIRE, and gave 1t over TO Malise,
with command 10 carry II throughout
| the land " the next one assigned 10
| take IL I'D and spread the call To rally,
"T'he mtister~place Is Lanrick mead
Speed forth the signals Clansfnafi,
speed"
Speed. Malise. speed! The lake Is
| past
Duncraggin's hlts appear at last
And peep, like moesgroWn rocks, haif
| EeeH
Half hidden In the copse 80 green;
| There mayEt thou rest, thy labor done.
Their Lord shall speed the signal on.
But when Malise reached the castle of
ltOderiek Lord Duncan
within the hall where torches ray
fstIpplied the excluded beams 0f day,
Lies Duncan on his lonely bier,
And o'er him streams his widows tear,
His STRIPPING son stands m0urnful by
Angus, the heir of Dunean's line,
Sprung forth and keized the fatal sign
J III haste the STRIPPING to his side
His fathers difk aud ET0sdsWord tied