Memorial Day
Memorial Day finds its birthplace in a number of small towns across the United States and became an official holiday in 1868 designated by General John Logan. Although Memorial Day began with mourning for the Civil War soldiers, it later expanded to include all soldiers from all wars. Below you will find the words to a song written in 1867. It is just as relevant today as ever. As we reminisce about “Our noble dead,” we are reminded that today’s soldiers are not exclusively fathers and brothers; they include our mothers, sisters, and friends.
Kneel where our loves are sleeping
By Mrs. L. Nella Sweet (1867)
Kneel where our loves are sleeping.
Dear ones loved in days gone by
Here we bow in holy reverence
Our bosoms heave their heartfelt sigh
They fell like brave men, true as steel, and pour’d their blood like rain
We feel we owe them all we have, and can but kneel and weep again
Kneel where our loves are sleeping,
They lost but still were good and true,
Our fathers, brothers fell still fighting
We weep, ‘tis all that we can do
Here we find our noble dead
Their spirits soar’d to him above
Rest they now about his throne,
For God is mercy, God is love.
Then let us pray that we may live,
As pure and good as they have been,
That dying we may ask of Him, To ope’ the gate and let us in
Kneel where our loves are sleeping,
They lost, but still were good and true,
Our fathers, brothers fell still fighting
We weep, ‘tis all that we can do
http://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/scriptorium/sheetmusic/b/b08/b0802/b0802-1-72dpi.html