The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-05-30
MEMORIAL SERVICES
Held On SUNDAY

the regular HlOlOIGaue.
The following is the address
that was delivered by Mr.. Little.
Address
Friends and neighbors:-truly
neighbors, now that the Upper
Keys and the Lower Keys have
been physically reunited. Key
West appreciates the PRIVILEGE Of
joining with you in what is most
appropriately this community s
observance of Memorial Day
This line of the far flung Flor
ida Keys, described by our own
poet, Stephen Cochran Singleton,
as
a scimitar that guarding.
sweeps
Before the Nations heart, and
ever keeps
Unsheathed its vigilance; il
stands and waits,
The outpost sentinel of our South
ern gates"
this line Of Keys is now one
community, just as we who live
here are united in spirit; and SO
we meet here today with one
common purpose. to honor the
memory Of those who here lost
their lives in that never to be for
gotten hurricane of 1885.
Only those of us who have eX-
/ perienced the devastating and
implacable fury Of one Of these
storms. can realize what those
men, women and children passed
through; can know how helpless
and puny is mankind before the
mighty forces of nature. To
those who were fortunate enough
to survive we extend our greet
ings, and our respect and admira-
ton for the courage with which
they faced the aftermath Of life
on these Keys, in the days follow
ing the storm.
Only those of you who went
through that experience can
realize what courage it took to
bring order out of chaos, and tc
rebuild a community here again.
All honor should be paid to those
who made this possible.
AS neighbors, we also join with
you in honoring the memory OF
those who served their country in
time Of war, and, broken in body
and spirit, came to this spot for
sanctuary, and here lost their
lives on that fateful day. And let
us not forget those residents of
this community, near and dear to
many of you, who may be termed
veterans also; not of war, but of
peace, who heard the call to the
great beyond, in the roaring of
the winds and waves on that day,
and went with these war veterans
on that last journey.
Truly it may be said that both
these the residents of the
Keys, and the war veterans who
were their guests for a time, had,
on that memorable day. a rem
devious with death; just as did
those others who served their
country overseas, of whom the
poet said
Il have a rendezvous with death
At some disputed barricade
When Spring comes round with
rustling shade
And apple blossoms fill the air.
| have a rendezvous with death,
When Spring brings back blue
days and fair.
It may be he shall take my hand
And lead me into his dark land,
And close my eyes and quench
my breath;
Ii may be / shall pass him. still
/ have a rendezvous with death,
On some SCARED slope Of battered
hill,
When Spring comes round again
this year
And the first meadow flowers APP
pear
These two arc linked together
in our memories today those
who had lived here. and estab-
lished their homes. through priva-
ton and toll and suffering. IN
this pioneer community; and
those who now lie here. who, at
the call Of their country went
abroad to fight q foreign foe on
alien land. and returned, broken
in mind ard body. 20 find some
sort Of sanctuary IN your MIDST
only to meet here that rendezvous
which death had not kept with
them overseas
Al the cali Of their country
these men left Their homes ard
their lowed ones. gave Up their
occupations. ard went onle goi-
unfairly, and some. ncThan up
willingly. 90 fsghg the War sc
end War. and 70 make The
world safe for Democracy
IN the light Of pehat Ne know
now: ia the light Of what $ iak.
ms place over uaost Of the world
today what hi3eos@ f
what 4 useless sacFffc
You know hos safe sbs
has been made for nsn
So safe that We are faed a !