The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-06-03
Memorial
Day Address
By Z. Begin
Program At City Park Fairly
Well Attended Despite
Cold
SIX AWARDS PRESENTED
V. F. w. And American Le-
gion Posts In Charge of
Event

Despite cold and unsettled wealth
er conditions Memorial Day exer-
cises were conducted at the City
Park Monday, May 31st, before a
fair audience Of service men and
residents. The program was open
ed with America" by the Sank
Centre Band. Rev. Charles Mayer,
pastor of the Church of Our Lady
Of the Angels gave the invocation.
Mrs. Robert Plant, chairman Of
the v. F. w. Essay committee,
made the presentation of awards
to the winners of that contest.
Margaret Bergman, of Grey Eagle,
was unable to be present, hence
the first prize was not presented.
Kenneth Forsberg, who placed sec
ond, was present to receive his
award. Mrs. Plant spoke briefly on
the aims of the contests, which had
for it's topic, Permanent Peace for
America"
Mrs. e. r. Hedin, as Regent of
the Sank Centre Chapter of the
Daughters Of the American Revol-
ution, awarded the prizes won in
the 1887 historical essay contest.
This contest was conducted in the
public schools. and pupils of the
seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth
grades participated. The purpose Of
these contests is to encourage the
young people to gain more definite
knowledge Of institutions, events,
persons and places closely associat-
ed with the history of our country.
Mrs. Hedin presented the awards
as follows: 9th and 10th grades,
first, Rita Egan; second, Kenneth
Forsberg. 7th and eighth grades,
first, Ruth Westhoff; second Rob
ert Rattle.
z. L. Begin, Of Marshall, Post
Department Commander Of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, was the
speaker of the day. The program
was under the direction of Paul
Donart Post, v. F. w. Following
the program the parade formulated
at the park and marched through
the streets to st. Pauls Church,
where the Veterans entered cars
and proceeded to the cemeteries
where services were held under the
direction Of Robert Swift Post
American Legion.
To-day we honor the soldiers,
sailors and marines Of all our
wars from the Revolutionary war,
through the Civil War, the Spanish
American War, to the great World
War. Our independence was won
for us by soldiers and sailors, the
ancestors Of the Daughters Of the
American Revolution. Our liberties
have been saved for us in later
years by servicemen," said 2. L.
Begin, Of Marshall, in his Memorial
address
Mr.. Begin continued in part:
There Is nothing peculiarly AM
erican or modern In the custom OF
honoring the dead on certain
day. From the very dawn Of his
tory, nations have honored the
memory of their veterans. 431 years
before the birth Of Christ. Pericle5
the great Athenian statesman de-
| livered a memorial day grafton In
which he eulogized the memory of
the men who had died for the Re
public of Athens. It is one Of the
greatest orations that have come
down to us from ancient times.
I'm America, we owe the day to
the Grand Army Of the Republic
although the original idea came
from the people Of the South. II
was In 1858 that John A. Logan
the great National Commander OF
the Grand Army, officially inaug-
urated the custom and issued his
famous order setting aside May
3Oth as the Day to decorate the
graves Of the Union Soldiers.
The members Of the American
Legion and the Veterans of For
eign Wars will appreciate why
am not going to speak at great
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