New Britain herald., 1928-09-24
knowing they played their part h these great events.


 ere death closed thsir eyes tho re- suits of that great struggle in which they save their lives. They could not know their cause victorious and civilization secure.
 They could not know that the ep- pressed peoples of central and east ern Europe had regained their ltb- erty and were free to realise their national and racial aspirations.
 ''They could not know that the old frontiers were broken down, the old rulers gone. and that democracy had established itself in the palaces of the discarded kings.
 ''They who die in such great causes do not die in vain.
 God grant their spirits may be- hold the results for which they died!
 ''To you. mothers and fathers and relatives of the illustrious dead, there must be a solemn pride. less ening your sorrow. in the thought that these your sons who gave their lives on the altar of liberty have helped to change for the better the face of the world.
 TO you the city offers the only thing in it's power to give-such consolation as you may fnd in this Memorial which shall perpetuate for generations to come their valor and their sacrifice.
 ''To you. comrades of the dead. who with equal patriotism upheld the lag of your country but. more fortunate. returned unscathed. to you the city places on this shaft tablet that records its pride in your service.
 Fortunate is any city to have such sons.
 'To you. citizens of New Britain, who have erected this Memorial by which you have honored the city it. self as we'll as its valiant sons, as you contemplate its meaning and think of the supreme service even unto death that the nation may exact at need. think too of the sig nificance of the names upon these tablets and draw a homely lesson therefrom.
 The names upon this Roll of Honor represent all of the races of men of Europe and America. To read the roll is to see a oss-section of the people of New Britain. Diff fering in race. language, religion and culture, unlike in ways of thought and action, these men like those elsewhere in the nation in similar communities under the stern call of their country and amenable to the discipline of war were welded into one compact body acting with one mind for one great purpose.
 "The strength of a city lies in the unity as we'll as the character of it's citizens.
 "As these so different races of men were by the necessities of war welded into one single minded body, so by the necessities of peace should our citizens of all races be drawn closely together by bonds of mutual understanding, sympathy and help fitness, so that they may work with a common purpose for the common good.
 ''So shall this city realize its high est ideals as 1t takes to heart this lesson from the tablets of the dead
 "The aftermath of war finds Flu. rope still troubled and perplexed by the problems raised by the tre. mendous convulsions and readjust, ment of that great conflict.
 Even 50 the waves of ocean still roll after the storm itself has sub. , sided.
 Peace in our own time, O Lord, 1, the prayer and object of her gov. ernments. How to secure it is thu difficulty.
 Very wisely has our own govern ment joined the effort for the reduc l ton of ornaments and tho outlawr, , of war as a means of settling dis . putes among nations. Let us pra! that for no slight causes shall ",
 disassociate ourselves from that eff fort.
 Long, long may peace and tran quillity dwell with us. But we should be forgetful o , the lessons of the past did we no , know that always and everywhcr P the peoples of the earth have gaine, and maintained their freedom onl, , upon the field of battle. f '.The foundations of the temple
 of liberty are cemented by the bloc. , of her sons In this world of swift F changes and short memories wher , each generation must apparentl
 learn its own lesson by hard ex s perience. no one can tell when ma
 tions to whom the Great War shal :. then be as dimly remembere, , thing shall once again meet in bat a tie.
 n Far away may the time be whe the men of this city are again calle n to arms, but when that time come V then here beneath this Memorial t r the soldiers of an earlier time the
 shall find example and inspiration. s May they go forth with as hig . courage and complete devotion a |. those whom We here commemorate a We dedicate this Memorial wit ;. gratitude. with sorrow and wit e pride to the brave men. living an e dead. who took up arms at the ca " Of their country.
 it Long may it stand looking ol " over city wisely governed. give l. over to the arts of peace
 May no more war-like sound e disturb the quiet of this hilltop tha e. the splash of fountains and tn IF happy voices of little children. Ma r wind and rain and storm be kind { If it and spare it.
 1T May the city which it overlook al i~l. 4