The following words were said on May 30, 1868 at the Arlington National Cemetery Commemoration of the first “Decoration Day” by James A. Garfield Speaking as Chair of the House Military Affairs Committee. He was later inaugurated as president on March 4 1881 and died on September 19, 1881 after being shot by an assassin on July 2, 1881.
I am oppressed with a sense of the impropriety of uttering words on this occasion.
If silence is ever golden, it must be here beside the graves of fifteen thousand men, whose lives were more significant than speech, and whose death was a poem, the music of which can never be sung.
With words we make promises, plight faith, praise virtue. Promises may not be kept; plighted faith may be broken; and vaunted virtue be only the cunning mask of vice. We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens.
For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.
For the noblest man that lives, there still remains a conflict. He must still withstand the assaults of time and fortune, must still be assailed with temptations, before which lofty natures have fallen; but with these the conflict ended, the victory was won, when death stamped on them the great seal of heroic character, and closed a record which years can never blot.
Special thanks to my friend Robert L. Dilenschneider who sent a Memorial Day message earlier this week that included these words and who allowed me to share it with you.
Take some time on Memorial Day to recall the reason for the “holiday” and make part of it a “holy day.” Also, Fly the Flag! Proudly!
Read More of the Partners’ Network Blog
[email protected] or by filling out the form below.
How Can We Help?
