Evening star., 1928-05-31
PRESIDENT HONORS MEMORY
OF MEN SLAIN AT GETTYSBURG
Pays Tribute In Decorstion Day Address
to Union Defenders Who Perished in
Service of Country.

The text of President Coolidges ad.
dress at Gettysburg Battlefield follows
My Fellow Americans:
This returning Decoration day bring.
our entire Nation in reverence and re.
| spect to the graves of our departed
soldiers. Each year their number ha.
increased, as that long blue line which
stood so valiantly for the cause of the
Union has grown thinner and thinner
until today it has almost vanished from
earthly view.
On fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread.
And glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.
We do not come to lament, but tc
give thanks. With one acclaim the peo-
pie beStow upon them all that divine
Salutation, well done, thou good and
faithful servant"
To express our devotion we have come
to the field of Gettysburg. 1t ranks as
one of the great historic battle grounds
of this continent In the magnitude
of its importance 1t compares with the
Plains of Abraham, with Saratoga and
with Yorktown. It Is associated with
a great battle between the Union and
Confederate forces and with one of the
greatest addresses ever delivered by one
of the greatest men ever In the world
Abraham Lincoln.
Nation Grateful for Service.
The respect In which the United
States holds its service men is indi-
Gated by something more substantial
than lip service. Between $4,000, ,000,-
600 and $1,000, 900, 600 have gone out
OF the United States Treasury in PEN
sions and gratuities to those who fought
in that war which reached its crest
upon this hard-fought field. These
payments are still going on at the rate
of about 5000, 600, 900 each year. To
the account of those who took part in
the World War, for benefits and COM
penSations in the short period of 10
years since its close, already there has
been set aside almost $4,000, 900 900,
and payments are going on at the rate
of about $3.50, COG. 900 each year. Our
people do something more for their
service men and their dependents be-
sides giving them a kind word while
they live and placing wreath on their
last resting place when they are gone.
All the countries on earth in all their
history. all put together, have not done
as much for those who have fought in
their behalf as our country alone has
done in the past so years. Our appre-
citation and our devotion Is evidenced
by something more than tributes and
monuments and yearly aSsemblages de-
voted to their praise.
While making these tremendous ex-
penditures for the benefit Of those who
have seen military service, our country
at the same time is making outlays in
<%4 4 L. d.
time OF peace for the purpose Of ma
tional defense. Yet our military force
Is exceedingly moderate, our standing
Army is small, our National Guard and
Reserve represent little more than a
supplementary police force, when We
consider our great area at home and
our obligations IN our outlying posses
sions Our naval force necessary for
the protection Of our commerce, which
Is worldwide and not exceeded In I'm
portance by that Of any other country,
while of very respectable proportions.
needs 10 be strengthened In cruisers
and other auxiliary craft. Such con-
struction Is already under way and
plans are maturing for the necessary
increases. Our air forces are being
steadily improved and enlarged.
Plan Only for Defense.
whiIs we are maintaining these mod
crate forces. we are especially anxious
for the world 10 know that they are
purely for defensive purposes and to
promote general peace and tranquility.
10 other nation has anything which We
would think of taking by force. Our
restrictive immigration Law Is decla-
ration Of national policy against the
acquisition Of the territory Of any for