The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-05-30
Memorial Day Observed in City
Ceremonies in Honor Of
Men in Service Of u. S.
American
Tradition

Il l dQlLlOll
Prof. Joseph p. Kelly Of Michi-
gan State Normal faculty was to
deliver the following address at
Memorial Day services in Highland
Cemetery this morning
To-day we renew a most honor
able American tradition. We are
trying as best We know how to pay
tribute 10 Americas heroic dead,
and to make manifest at least In
some small measure our deep and
permanent gratitude for the way Of
life which they. by their suffering
and death, have given us. We
know they died so that all Ameri-
cans OF all generations. and OF all
colors and creeds. and of all ma.
tionalities might live free and
hopeful and ever richer lives. Each
and every American who stands In
tribute by an American soldiers
grave this morning knows that he
is standing close to someone whom
he can never repay! All that we
have been, and are. and hope to be
springs from freedom, and ouf
freedom we owe in great measure
to the men who died to save IL for
us. In honor of them we march,
We play patriotic music. make
pathetic little speeches, hre guns
in salute, bare our heads and pray
little, on our Memorial Day.
These are sweet gestures! Through
them shines that constant gentle
ness which is part OF America. IL
is altogether fitting that we should
hold such ceremonies, II Is good
for Americans that they reach
out in spirit and grasp the hands
OF their heroes.
Grave Monfent
ION this particular Memorial
Day our annual rendezvous with
the spirit our our dead heroes
is held In a solemn and grave mo-
ment in the worlds history. The
heroes OF the Revolution died that
America might be forever indepen.
dent; the heroes OF the Civil War
died that America might remain
forever united and that every man,
woman, and child in America. white
or black. might be forever free;
the heroes OF the first World War
died TO perpetuate these blessings;
the heroes OF Pearl Harbor, Ba.
taan. Corregidor, died for the same
end-that our independence, our
unity and our freedom might last
forever. These then are the three
values for which Americans have
declared and proved always that
they will fight and die-Independ.
ence. the Unity OF our Country, and
Human Freedom.
Fundamentals Attacked
"All Of these fundamental values
have been yiciously. treacherously,
and dangerously attacked again,
and they stand in peril at this
moment, 1t is indeed a solumn day
for Americans who live by indie
pendence. and unity. and freedom
to offer tribute TO all those Ameri.
cans who have died for these
thingsl
what shall We say 10 those
dead? OF what stun shall our
memorial tribute be made, Shall
It be marching. and playing, and
speaking, and PRAYING? These are
good things. Let them 20 on, But,
Is that all that we have TO offer the
men who died that we may 20
forward in life? There has fallen
into hands the duty TO fashion a
more perfect tribute 10 these dead
than has ever been spoken in words
or enacted into deeds This gen.
GRAFTON OF Americans has met its
rendezvous with destiny. Let each
OF US in his own mind and heart
[ place q true value upon the life
values for which these men died
and for which this country stands.
and having done that let each ask
himself is there any other values
than these. what are they? II there
be other values than independence
and unity and human freedom, In
what land shall We find them? Let
each OF us in our great moment
ask himself and answer himself
these questions and abide by his
answer as unflinchingly as they
did in their great moment. In
the light Of his answer. let each
American resolve that the great
values which have been saved for
our lives. and without which there
is no life shall not be lost az our
hands As these dead men saved
them for US. so shall We save them
for ourselves and for others for.
ever, To that end silently pledge
all that you are and all that you
have II needed. in full confidence
that so pledged it cannot be lost
IL we truly value our way OF
life. II We truly honor the men who
died for IL. after our parade Is
over and our music has stopped