The Kennewick Courier Reporter

MEMORIAL DAY—

For all soldiers, living and dead, for all wars that made soldiers, May 30 has been set aside to perpetuate the spirit and sacrifice, with praise for the glory in honor on a battlefield, respect for all soldiers of the past and the present with a prayer there might be no need for the future. There were heroes of Colonial days who fought at Valley Forge, brave ones dying on both sides in the Civil War, and so on through our history, always sacrificing for the sake of the nation. This May anniversary dedicated to sacrifice comes to find us engulfed in a fight to retain our claim to greatness, every part of this nation being truly great. We are fighting and sending out our youth to die for preservation of equality and a free ballot, freedom from tyranny and oppression. Memorial Day is paying tribute to soldiers who have previously fought to maintain these principles of Americanism. On many battlefields in many wars our soldiers have paid their tribute to this country many times over. Thinner grows the ranks and added silent mounds are decorated in their memory. The grandeur of laying down lives for sectional lines and political differences and economic reasons is vested in this public praise. We know the principle of all wars is wrong, as we question the moral principles, disputes that call for settlement with the lives of our cherished young—our youth still goes off to the wars! There is less hurrah and throwing of hats in the air, perhaps an aversion to giving up their way of life, but willing to do so to see that their way of life will not be taken from them by a miserable force that would lower our standard of living before we take the opportunity to prove our gratitude by raising its level. This nation is engaged in a bitter struggle and the shadows of fallen heroes of past wars heave a sigh that there must be more join them in this hall of death thru national sacrifice. Perhaps these dead wonder that we have not been better able through our past experiences to keep our affairs in order that such a war could be averted. Born out of battle, in the cradle of liberty, with hope for future peace came the birth of Memorial Day. May its memory move us to protect the future.