The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1934-05-30
Annual Memorial
Services Are Held
CONTINUED from PAGE ~

"While II 10 true that the world
catastrophe might have been
0verted by O conference yet, In tho
light of the present day, ! still fee
that there are certain sensations
certain personal or national convie.
lions which ct times outweigh req.
son and cool judgment. The world
cannot stand still. II must advance
or recedo. Tho same Is true of In.
dividuals. At the time that the
World war broke out In 1914 there
was undoubtedly O great spirit OF
rivalry rampant among nations and
1t reflected itself In individuals.
fGermany, having arisen from O
few states, somewhat similar to the
United States Of America, became
an empire of great power and vast
wealth. II felt that II England,
France, Belgium or any combina-
ton OF them should acquire greater
wealth, greater influence or greater
would be injuriously affected and
sea power the prestige OF Germany
that eventually Germany would DO
subservient to some one or all of
those powers Being a more homo.
geneous nation than any OF the
others mentioned Il was easy to
solidify this sentiment and to In.
culcate into all of the German citi.
zens fear that the Fatherland
was In danger. not only OF disrup.
ton but OF destruction. Carefully
famed and cultivated by those In
power with a accidental happen.
ings, In early 1914. the German
people through the kaiser. declared
war upon the world.
while this did not appear to be
true at the time, nevertheless sue
ceeding events within q few years
demonstrated the truth of It. In
the maelstrom thus precipitated, in
due time, In defense of liberty, the
pursuit Of happiness, the right to
earn a livelihood and the right to
travel on sea and land, this country
of ours. was necessarily involved
and when the call came the citizen-
ry of this country was not found
wanting. When the proclamation
of war against Germany was issued
by our president, woodrow Wilson,
on April 8, 1917, he found behind
him united country.
although at that time, from q
military standpoint, we were un.
prepared for war. yet In q very
short space of time two million
men had been trained, equipped
and supplied, and many of, them
had Travelled across the seas, and
as a credit to the organization
which had charge of the World
war l would like to say here that
not one United States ship carry
ing soldiers was torpedoed or de-
stroyed while II was crossing the
ocean. Everyone felt that he must
either pay. work or serve. We had
no draft riots. no trouble In mum.
ton factories and though our task
was hard we were able to get the
funds with which to carry on the
war which was waged successfully
and resulted in the triumph of JUS
tice and righteousness.
There remain two duties grow.
ing out of this war: First, to see
that the obligations which we In
CURED are repaid; and second, by
far the nobler and the greater one,
to see that we do not forget those
who served by joining the armed
forces of the country and who not
only were ready to. but did sacri-
fee not only their LIES ambitions,
the opportunity of success. and
their limbs but even their lives.
"It Is fitting that on this late
May day. when the winter SHOWS
have gone and the flowers bloom
and the sun shines, that we gather
together in holy communion. one
nation indivisible. with liberty and
justice for all. and with the hope
that no such sacrifice may be de-
manded of this generation or any
other generation In the future. to
pay our respects. to. those who
served and died"
The parade then reformed and
swung down Grand street, past the
reviewing stand In front OF the city
hall where city officials were ga
theFed.
The parade turned down hank
street 10 Exchange Place, to North
Main street, TO Cooke street, to