The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-05-30
Memorial Day

The impress of a war mightier than that which in
spired the inception of Memorial day has come, as the
blue lines Of the old defenders Of the Union fade away,
to claim that observance for the titanic conflict which
engulfed almost the entire world. To a new generation
with actual memories of the World war, that struggle
with its regency has come to overshadow the remoter
civil clash of the sections. The survivors Of the European
battlefieds are taking over the day and preserving 1t
from that decay which the vanishing vestges Of partic-
ipants in the civil war gave threat Of happening.
What then has Memorial day come to signify in this
shift of gravity from the days of 81 to the days of 1913?
Helen Welsheimer, in a Memorial day editorial prepared
for a syndicate newspaper service, has caught the spirit
Of the change and tells it in words that flash fire and
lines that flame. Nothing finer could be said about the
day as she says 1t, thus:
Men are marching on many streets today.
Old men whose battle songs make faint music now.
and young men whose lips still whistle the tunes that
brought courage when they followed the flame of a scar
let banner in an alien land, are keeping step again.
The spirit of crusade has come back for a little while
and age and youth seek the accoade that comes to those
who 90 forth to right a wrong. The streets down which
they come and the ~thronsins crowds fade away, and the
soldiers take dim trails again. as the bands strike up the
martial challenge.
Across the Argonne, Chateau Thierry, SCISSORS, down
Flanders way men march again, nud-caked, bruised,
bleeding, going to death perhaps-but going unafraid.
Khaki lines swing by to keep a tryst with yesterday.
And as they march thin lines Of older men, in faded
blue or gray. catch the same refrain and follow tattered
flags across the field to Gettysburg. vicksburs and other
famous. half-forgotten fields. Their trail is q longer
one. Weeds have made a tangled way across the paths
they took when their suits were new and their steps were
sure. But the goal they sought is as shining as that
which their sons and g~randsons fought to win in the
wars that have followed.
There will be a hush In the waiting crowd and the
drums will be muffled sometimes while a bugle sings a
requiem for those who do not march today. There will
be tears in many eyes for men who lie In the graves on
which loyal hands have placed their flowers, and for
another group which sleeps in green beds where peoples
make a crimson riot.
Through the ages there has been a thrill to marching
men. Ever since the first knights went forth, steel clad,
to seek the Grail. high exultation has gone with those
who fought a good fight.
But today words of peace are coming with startling
clearness as they pierce the smoke from thousands Of
years of battles. After all, there can be little happiness
in any drama, splendid though its stage, il there are tears
when the curtain falls.
Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down
his life for his friend" we have been told. However, II a
way is found which will permit men to live that life for
others there will be greater rejoicing as the parades go
by. Peace on Garth, good will to men, make a mighty
challenge. It was to fulfill Its prophecy that the men
who march today once went to war.