The Coolidge examiner. [volume] (Coolidge, Ariz.) 1930-current, 1938-05-26
A R I. Z o N A
AIR By n s,;,s
MEMORIAL DAY


set apart for the decoration of the
graves of those who have given
their lives for their country In wars
it has become a memorial day for
al our dead. But the soldiers hold
first place in the thought of the
day
1t is a day of memories. OF flow
ers, of speeches, The memories are
dear to the hearts of all who have
loved ones, comrades and friends
to remember. The flowers are al
ways beautiful and are contributed
with tenderness. But when 1t comes
to flowers and graves the flowers
are given more for ourselves than
for the dead. 1t is about the only
thing left for us to do for those
who are gone. We try to make up
in flowers for things we would Ike
to do for them, but can't. Placing
flowers helps to ease our own hurt
and sorrow.
AS for our speeches-it all de-
ponds. We pay tribute In words,
tell Of the bravery and patriotism
of our dead and then. too often.
use their graves as a point OF pro-
paganda for more equipment with
which to kill more soldiers-some
body's soldiers.
II we could talk today. to our
World War dead and they could
ask us questions about what we
were going to do about their sacri-
fees, they would hear some stran-
ge things.-Strange to one who
had died for something.
The chances are that they would
ask us about the peace of the
world. We would have to tell them
-"Oh, peace-sure-well. its on the
way. You died for it and 1t Is com
ing. but we have few things in
the way yet"
What are they?"
well, you see, its this way
Well. to be perfectly frank, we
still follow a program of soaring the
other fellow to death by our toting
around a lot OF guns, battleships.
gas bombs. fighting p4nes-We
have no intention of using them. of
course. Just a matter Of being pre-
pared in case"
But that IS what got US into
trouble when | was killed"
Sure. | know, only-well you
see-well a man hos to have some
protection in case OF attack"
We'll what is all this talk about
seeing that we have not died for
our country in vain? What are you
doing about that?'
well, you see. it is like this
We have just gotten thru another
appropriat on of over billion dol
lars-think of it-over a billion
Why when you we're here we never
had spent such sums for the SAFE
ty of our country-We are going
to build more fighting planes, bat
leships and everything-so that In
case of attack"
But we were told things like
that when | was alive
"T know-but-well. you have to
give US time-None Of US believes
in war-we are all against it only.
in case of attack you see-we
have to be ready.
"Yes, l see, Just forget it. When
YOU and your children are where
we are now, the people will likely
still be talking just as you are
Men will still be making speeches
about seeing that we have not died
IN vain and governments will still
be building bigger armies and nav
les and talking about the justifica
ton of wars. Has our government
appropriated many billions OF dol
lars for the promotion of peace
good will and understanding since
| was killed."
well, no-not just in that way
-we'er-that is-ah-" we can't
answer that one. We will place our
flowers and say Brave fellow
and we will come away wondering
Just what we ought to do about II
different from what we are doing
And we will wonder about our civ
ilization that looks back with horror
to the dark ages and the primitive
times-the cruelty of those times
We will try to find comfort In the
fact that we are making progress
that we have many fine things now
that the word never had before
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