The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-06-03
DECORATION DAY
OBSERVED HERE
WITH SERVICES
Citizens Urged To Keep Faith
With Those Who Gave Their
Lives For Their Country

"Never falter, never fail, never
weaken in a resolve to safeguard
America from all enemies, without or
Within, was the obligation placed
upon every citizen by Joseph NJ. Con
der, Legion representative, in his
Memorial Day address before the
tomb of the unknown soldier in the
Oakland cemetery Sunday afternoon.
Pointing out that Decoration Day
glorified certain principles Of Ameri-
canism which were born with the
Declaration of Independence, he de-
clareJ those who accepted this basic
truth would abandon the attitude that
it was just an historic anniversary
identified exclusively with the events
of 1865, and think of it as identified
with all wars.
This year." he said, MAY Goth de-
serves special consideration by the
people in every community, not only
to remember our honored dead of all
previous wars, but also to the present
generation of Americas heroes who
sleep in their unmarked graves on
Bataan, Corregidor, on Guadalcanal,
beneath the waters Of the seven seas,
in jungle swamps Of the tropics and
beneath the sands of North Africa"
Mr. Gender summarized the history
Of the American Legion since its in
ception following World War |, and
how the G. A. R. gave to it the honor
of conducting memorial exercises, sue
ceeding that organization in an honest
endeavor to safeguard the interests of
this nation, and declared that since
1920 the Legion had been endeavoring
to awaken fellow citizens of the need
of an enlarged Army and Navy for an
adequate national defense in order
that peace the Legionairres had
helped to restore to the nation would
endure.
He recalled to mind the poem Of
John McCrae, Canadian soldier-poet
who wrote 'If We break faith with
us who die" and urged all citizens to
keep the faith by rededicating our
lives to full measure of reverence to
those who have given their all and
whole hearted support to those who
at present are devoting their lives in
preserving the principles of our coun-
try and restoring freedom to those I'M
fortuates in conquered countries"
The service at the cemetery Sunday
afternoon was only part of the special
program prepared by Legionairrcs
and Knights of Pythias.
The Knights held a special memoir
ial service for their departed members
after which they joined with the Le-
gion members for their special cere-
mony at the tomb of the unknown SOL
der. Rev, FIR. John c. Broderick, pas
tor of st, Peters church. made the
invocation. The usual volley was fired
by Legionairres, followed by the bugle
sounding of taps i'll memory of de-
parted veterans.
Music on the march to the ceme-
terry and also during the ceremonies
there was played by Mickey's Band of
Oakland,
Honor Roll Dedication
Following the cemetery ceremonies
citizens gathered at the city lot on
Third street where the honor roll, con-
tanning the names Of more than 1900
young men of the county who are now
serving their country at home and in
the armed forces overseas, had been
erected through the efforts Of Ruhl
Talbot, local manager Of the Oakland
Coca-Cola Bottling Works, and other
company employees,
After the singing of the National
Anthem the American flag was raised
on ths new flag mast. Rev H. hsarney