Volume 15 , Issue 21

1912 - A Lyric For Memorial Day

We found the following lyric by Joel Benton, in The Bemidji Daily Pioneer, dated 30 May 1912, Thursday evening.

Lift up once more the tinted bars.
From tower and steeple give them sway
On whose bosom shine the stars.
Let freedom's flag the kiss of May
Feel in all its folds today.

In state and town, in port and bay, Fling the nation's colors out. Let the bands of music play And pensive strains float all about While speech nd song and flowers gay Come to crown Memorial day.

In the isles of many a sea,
On the mainland broad and free,
Where'er a soldier's grave is found,
With sweet blossoms wreathe it round,
For here no scepter is nor throne --
Here no tyrant rule is known.

Tell it so the world may know
What today we surely owe
To the heroes of the past.
May their sacred offering last.
In the memories that survive,
In freedom's name they kept alive,
And down the serried years to come,
Haloed be their martyrdom!   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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