Exploring recent and historic events that have defined America, this podcast is perfect for understanding the foundations of American culture. Have you always wondered about the events that led to the deaths of JFK or the story of Son of Sam? What about the full story behind the Founding Fathers? Each episode of History's Agenda provides detailed storytelling of these issues and many others. This is an ideal podcast for fact-hungry listeners.
President Warren G. Harding delivered his "Address at Hoboken" on May 23, 1921, at Army Pier 4 in Hoboken, New Jersey. This deeply emotional speech served as a memorial service welcoming home 5,112 (often cited as 5,212) American soldiers, sailors, marines, and nurses who died serving in France during World War I. One of the most famous lines from his address reflected the somber mood of the nation: "They shall not have died in vain."
There grows on me the realization of the unusual character of this occasion. A republic has been at war before. It has actually received the supreme sacrifices of its sons and daughters. And faith in America has been justified. Many sons and daughters made the sublime offers and went to hell it raised its nation's defenders. But we never before sent so many to battle under the plague in a foreign land. Never before was there the impressive spectacle of thousands of dead returning to find eternal resting place in the beloved homeland. The incident
is without parallel with the history that I know. These dead know nothing of our ceremonies today. They sent nothing of the pantomime to the tenant that would bring their wasteless bodies to the homeland for burial. Close to Kin and friend and he carries the top agent. These four bodies are but the clay tenements once possessed of souls which flamed in patriotic devotion. Light as new hopes on the battlegrounds of civilization, and in their sacrifices, fed on to abuse autocracy before the court of eternal judgment. We are not met for them. Though we love and honor and be the grateful tribute. It would be dugal to speak to those who do not hear, or to sorrow for those who cannot sense it, or to exult those who cannot know. But we can speak for countries, we can reach those whose sorrows, and sacrifice through their service, who suffers through their doing, who glory with the republics through their heroic achievements, who rejoice in the civilization their heroism preserves. Every general, every memorial, every tribute is for the
Liz. An offering in compensation of Sa. When the light of light goes out, there's a new radiance in eternity. Somehow the glow of it releases the darkness which you've left behind. Ever a death, but somewhere a new life. Never a sacrifice, but somewhere an atonement. Never a service, but somewhere and somehow an attiga. These have served, which is the supreme inspiration and living. They have earned everlasting gratitude, which is the supreme solace in dies. Though one may measure the best in varied affections and sorrows centering on this title, bodies want livings, fighting for and finally dying to the public. One's words fail, his understanding is halted. His emotions are stirred beyond control when contemplating these thousands of the love of dead. I find a hundred thousand sorrows touching my heart. There's ringing in my ears like an admonition eternal. An insectant call.
God granted it will not see. Let a practical people dine in cooperation with God to the end that it shall not see. I would not wish a nation for which men are not willing to fight in this needy to die. But I do wish for a nation where it's not nasicai dot sassasi. I do not pretend this millennial days have come. But I can believe in the possibility of a nation being so righteous as never to make a war of conquest. And a nation so powerful in righteousness that none will dare invoke hurrah. I wish, for us, such an America.
These heroes were saturated in supreme conflicts of all human history. They saw democracy salad and defended it. They saw civilization threatened it, and rescued it. They saw Maratha affront it and revented it. They saw our nation rights imperiled, and stamped those rights with a move sanctities and renewed security. We shall not forget, no matter whether they lie amidst its bleachness in the gloom of the homeland, our fleets in the toil they swim in.
Our mindfulness, our gratitude, our revels shall be in the preserved with public, the maintained liberties, and the supreme justice for which they died.
