Dr. Divine, Mr. Hardison, My fellow Sons of Union Veterans, Ladies of the Sons Auxiliary, Ladies of the Bentonville UDC, Special
Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen.
First let me bring greetings from National Commander Perley
Mellor, Perley wanted to be here today but unfortunately other obligations have
prevented him from coming. Perley asked
that I congratulate all those who have worked diligently to make this monument
a reality, and express his gratitude for a job well done.
In preparation for these, my brief comments, the words
of Ralph Waldo Emerson; in his Essay on Eloquence, came immediately to
mind. You see Emerson believed that an
orator who rises in passion to speak on a topic will only be successful if he
chooses the right words to express that passion. This afternoon I hope my choices will
accomplish their intended purpose to inspire and motivate you to never stop honoring
our ancestors.
For me the idea of standing on this hallowed landscape,
on this mid-march afternoon, and participating in the dedication of this first
monument to the Union soldiers who fought and died at Bentonville holds a very
special significance. You see, my Great
Great Grandfather Richard Martin Lown, Co F. 150th NY Volunteer
Infantry of the XX Corps also stood on this ground in March one hundred and forty-eight
years ago.
The pride I feel today is boundless and pulsing in my
veins. That part of my great great grandfather
which courses through my body is alive and filled with gratitude for the
profound act of remembrance which we are engaged in today.
The poet Walt Whitman wrote in his famous poem O
Captain my Captain the following phrase “Rise up – for you the bugle trills;
For you the bouquets and ribboned wreaths, for you the shore a crowding” While
this was written in tribute to the life of Abraham Lincoln; let us invoke that
same short passage to demonstrate our duty to faithfully and forever honor the
memory of these men who sacrificed all to preserve the Union. They are gone from our sight forever, but like
Lincoln have arrived on that distant shore in victory and honor. Therefore sound the trumpet, place the
wreath, and gather round to show respect
Let this monument be the testament of our continued
struggle to ensure the memory of these men and their cause is taught to future
generations. Let the monument be a
beacon which shines forth the story of their sacrifice, and let us never forget
it is our responsibility to tell the story.
Thank you for your attention
May God Bless you and yours, may God bless our patriot ancestors, and may God Bless our
Country!
Written and presented by Mark R. Day Speech for the dedication of the First Union Monument on the Battlefield at Bentonville, NC 3/16/13. Copyright by Mark R. Day 3/16/13, all rights reserved
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