Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-06-03

hall headed by Malconta Post band,
| the patriotic orders marched to the
Malta M. e. church, where they join
| ed the pupils from the Malta grade
schools, and all marched to the NAL
| ia cemetery, where the soldiers
graves were decorated. The exer-
cises included prayer by Rev Paul I.
Wachs, and the playing of two Sc
lections, America" and Nearer My
God to Thee" by the band, with the
benediction by Rev. Wachs. Return
ing to the public square the process
sion was Joined by other organiza-
tions. The order of parade as it
left the square for the cemetery
was: Colors; Malconta Post band;
Company F, 166th Infantry; Amer
lean Legion and World war and
Spanish American war veterans; w.
r. c.; Ladies Auxiliary; d. of A. U.
v; d. of A. R.; Sons of Legion; Boy
Scouts and schools.
At the McConnelsville cemetery,
the exercises were held at the sans
place where the G. A. R. and w. r.
C. services were held for many years
American Legion Post Commander
Dale Ellis had charge of the exer-
cises, which included prayer by Rev.
r. H. Hoy; the singing of America"
and of Nearer My God to Thee" ac-
companied by the band; decoration
of the graves; address, Atty G.. o.
McGonagle; soldiers salute; taps,
and benediction by Rev. Hoy
While very eloquent and able
speaker on all occasions, Atty Nc
Gonagle never quite SO rises to his
best oratorical efforts as on patriotic
occasions. He is son Of one of the
"boys who wore the blue" He spoke
of the voluntary outpouring of patri-
otic citizens who had gathered to
honor the soldier dead and remark
ed that not another county in the
state so fittingly and patriotically
observes Memorial day as does Nor
gan county; and he gave it strictly
in charge of the coming generation
to keep it SO. In the beginning of
his address the speaker recited the
beautiful poem of Walt Mason en-
titled 1.-THE Little Green Tents" and
the thoughts of that poem were WOW
en- throughout the address, He re-
cited the conflicts and wars this
country passed through to the pres
ent time, and the great sacrifice that
has been paid for the freedom we to-
day enjoy. He said that every man
who marched in war upheld our con-
stitution, and said that it is just as
necessary now, if not more so, that
citizens in general uphold it. He
traced the events leading up to the
Civil war, and said that in 1851 the
storm broke. 1t was fought to a
CYJn fY,I -,
that caused that conflict was fought
out, so that in the conflict of 1898
we found Joe Wheeler and Fitzhugh
Lee, both of whom wore the gray
uniform, fighting in the Union
armies, all working together for a
united country. The World war was
a conflict between two systems of
thinking; one was that 1.-The king
can do no wrong" and the German
government tried to run the seas and
to tell America how she should trav-
ell the seas; and also madly violated
the treaty in overrunning Belgium;
and this nation was drawn into the
conflict. 1t was a war to end war
and to make the world safe for de-
mocracy, and treaties were made and
a League of Nations formed to that
end; but later dictators of Europe
began to raise their heads. and the
countries began arming as never be-
fore-not to protect countries, or
treaties, but solely to protect dicta-
tors. These dictators, the speaker
said, care little for their subjects.
He brought out that citizens
should know in what manner we
have attained our liberty and what
1T has cost. Every man and woman
is stockholder in this country, he
said, and they should continue to
worship at the shrine of the Little
Green Tents" Soldiers who gave
their lives had as much right to live
as we, and he said that a nation not
worth fighting for is not worth liz
ing in. American soldiers lie buried
in the As states of the union, ard
their bones carpet the bottom of the
seas. They made possible the bless
ings we enjoy-their fight ended at
death, but our fight for good citizen
ship should never end, and the torch
handed us should be carried on
down. The speaker called attention
to the pain, disease and suffering
our soldiers bear without murmur,
and said that war is horrible, but so
long as there is tyranny we must
either have war or let other nations
step in and possess our land.
Mr.. McGonagle in conclusion said
that to him Decoration day was a
sacred day, and should be ever kept
as such, and it's observance not be
given over to frivolities.