Keeping Memorial Day
When the May has culled her flowers for the summer waiting long,
And the breath of early roses wooe the hedges into song.
Comes the throb of martial music and the banners in the street,
And the marching of the millions bearing garlands fair and sweet—
Tis the Sabbath of the Nation, ’tis the floral feast of May!
In remembrance of our heroes
We keep Memorial Day.
They are sleeping in the valleys, they are sleeping ‘neath the sea,
They are sleeping by the thousands till the royal reveille;
Let us know them, let us name them, let us honor one and all,
For they loved us and they saved us, springing at the bugle call;
Let us sound the song and cymbal, wreathe the immortelles and bay.
In the fervor of thanksgiving
We keep Memorial Day.
—Kate B. Sherwood.
The Dead To The Living
O you that still have rain and sun,
Kisses of children and of wife,
And the good earth to tread upon,
And the mere sweetness that is life,
Forget not us, who gave all these
For something dearer, and for you!
Think in what cause we crossed the seas!
Remember, he who fails the challenge
Fails us, too.
Now in the hour that shows the strong—
The soul no evil powers affray-
Drive straight against embattled Wrong:
Faith knows but one, the hardest, way.
Endure; the end is worth the throe.
Give, give; and dare, and again dare!
On, to that Wrong’s great overthrow!
We are with you, of you; we the pain and
Victory share.
—Laurence Binyon.
Alternate Reading: James 5:1-16.