Translate
Memorial Day
These did not pass in selfishness; they died for all mankind;
They died to build a better world for all who stay behind;
And we who hold their memory dear, and bring them flowers to-day,
Should consecrate ourselves once more to live and die as they.
These were defenders of the faith and guardians of the truth;
That you and I might live and love, they gladly gave their youth;
And we who set this day apart to honor them who sleep
Should pledge ourselves to hold the faith they gave their lives to keep.
If tears are all we shed for them, then they have died in vain;
If flowers are all we bring them now, forgotten they remain;
If by their courage we ourselves to courage are not led,
Then needlessly these graves have closed above our heroes dead.
To symbolize our love with flowers is not enough to do;
We must be brave as they were brave, and true as they were true.
They died to build a better world, and we who mourn to-day
Should consecrate ourselves once more to live and die as they.
The Chaplain
He was just a small church parson when the war broke out, and he
Looked and dressed and acted like all parsons that we see.
He wore the cleric’s broadcloth and he hooked his vest behind,
But he had a man’s religion and he had a strong man’s mind,
And he heard the call to duty, and he quit his church and went,
And he bravely tramped right with ‘em everywhere the boys were sent.
He put aside his broadcloth and he put the khaki on;
Said he’d come to be a soldier and was going to live like one.
Then he refereed the prize fights that the boys pulled off at night,
And if no one else was handy he’d put on the gloves and fight.
He wasn’t there a fortnight ere he saw the soldiers’ needs,
And he said: “I’m done with preaching; this is now the time for deeds.”
He learned the sound of shrapnel, he could tell the size of shell
From the shriek it make above him, and he knew just where it fell.
In the front line trench he labored, and he knew the feel of mud,
And he didn’t run from danger and he wasn’t scared of blood.
He wrote letters for the wounded, and he cheered them with his jokes,
And he never made a visit without passing round the smokes.
Then one day a bullet got him, as he knelt beside a lad
Who was “going west” right speedy, and they both seemed mighty glad,
‘Cause he held the boy’s hand tighter, and he smiled and whispered low,
“Now you needn’t fear the journey; over there with you I’ll go.”
And they both passed out together, arm in arm I think they went.
He had kept his vow to follow everywhere the boys were sent.
My Part
I may never be a hero, I am past the limit now,
There are pencil marks of silver Time has left upon my brow;
I shall win no service medals, I shall hear no cannons’ roar,
I shall never fight a battle higher up than eagles soar,
But I hope my children’s children may recall my name with pride
As a man who never whimpered when his soul was being tried.
For the fighting and the dying for the everlasting truth
Are the labors designated for the strongest of our youth,
And the man that’s nearing forty isn’t asked to march away,
For there is no place in battle for the head that’s turning gray.
His test is one of patience till the bitter work is done,
He must back his country’s leaders till the victory is won.
When this bitter time is ended I don’t want to have it said
That I faltered in my courage and I never looked ahead,
I don’t want it told I added to the burdens and the woe,
By preaching dismal doctrines that were cheering to the foe;
I want my children’s children to respect me and to find
That my soul was out there fighting, though my body stayed behind.
When this cruel test is over and the boys come back from France
I’d not have them say I hindered for a moment their advance;
That they found their duty harder than ’twas needful it should be
Because of the complaining of a lot of men like me.
Though I’ll win no hero’s medals and deserve no wild applause,
I want to be of service, not a hindrance to the cause.