Evening star., 1938-05-29

-Hls Memorial Day thank God that am an
American. That may sound trite and outworn
but in this year of 1888 it has depth and
meaning that it has never had before.
America the hope of the world! America the haven
of the world! America that brave boys have fought
and died to keep alive!
There have been times when have felt that some
of these heroes died in vain. have seen them eaily
salute death in far-Aung corners of the world = in
France, in Northern Russia, in Siberia and on the
seven seas have been bitter at what felt was their
needless sacrifice.
But am not SO sure now that was right. Twenty
years ago America was dreaming of doing something
that neither she the world was quite ready for.
She was trying to make this First World Slaughter
the last world slaughter And it not to be.
But it not the failure that was important. 1t
was the dreaming and the trying Americas sacrifice,
and the supreme sacrifice of her brave sons was i'll
timed. Many great sacrifices i'll timed. But the
trying lights up the tired hearts of men, even if only
for brief spell.
| am Northerner to my hngertips but honor
soldiers in all historym than Pcketts men, who
went to death that July day at Gettysburg Right
wrong, they were true to their cause. They were
soldiers. have their sons and grandsons fight
and die in the Meuse-Argonne. Right or wrong, they
too were true to their cause. They were soldiers.
And this Memorial Day we stop long enough in
mad search for dollars and the tinsel of success
to drop rose some single grave that is symbol
of all their graves of all these boys who died for an
America that is as real as it's hills and prares its
rivers and woods.
| wonder what he would say if he could speak -
this unknown American soldier Six wars he has
fought one for each American generation that has
come and gone.
Probably this composite soldier would have
trouble finding words to give meaning to his inner
thoughts. He would speak about the honor of his
regiment, of his comrades, of the unholy adventure
of war. And then in vaguest terms he would speak of
his country his America. From Valley Forge to
Chateau-T Therry he has looked into the bright face
of danger exalted by some inexpressible feeling that
he was fighting for his land and his world
do not believe that he would curse the men who
sent him death. do not believe he was afraid to
die. At no time or place has life been good to more
than the few fortunate ones.
And it was this half-thought-out dream that he
might help make his land and his world fit for all men
to live in that let this composite unknown American
be willing to die on hundred battlefelds.
do not believe he died in van He has seen to it
that we still have beautiful and mighty land. He
has enriched this great country by the total Of
all his little dreams for it. He has given substance to
its hopes He has kept alive in its FUTURE when
some day there may be the good things of this life
for ALL That take it, has been the true dream of
America from its birth.
think these many thousand heroes of ours would
whisper such thing if they could. And then
they would add wish 1t would be this: keep
America clean and uninvaded for its great future
believe in that wish
want America always to be America