| The
graceful hills of the western borderland of Iowa are crowned with a
matchless city. When the morning sun floods over her towers she is
greeted with a magnificent view of the fertile fields of Nebraska
spreading out at her feet to the westward. Too, the rich plains of
Dakota share her survey of splendors -- where the scenic Sioux gives
its waters to the mighty Missouri. Within
the borders of this excellent city are a thousand glistening palaces --
where kings and queens abide. Palaces of honor, surrounded with trees
and flowers -- not by cold, defying walls of stone.. Each palace is a
monument to God's great institution --- the American home. The kings
and queens abiding therein are the fathers and mothers of today, who
faithfully taught us to live and sever under the standard of democracy
of democracy that was the reward of the service and sacrifice of our
forefathers.
It was early in the spring of 1917
that this beautiful city was startled by the news that she was no
longer at peace. The United States of America had unsheathed her sword
on that day, the sixth of April. Calm filled the warm spring air. A
gentle, refreshing rain had been falling. The news of the declaration
of war came in the late afternoon when the clouded skies began to lift
and mingle their glories with the brilliance of the sin that was low in
the west. A wealth of golden color was being poured over the hills of
Iowa's western borderland. The matchless city praised her eyes from the
message of war to survey again her realm. There at her feet were the
fertile fields of Nebraska where plows glistened and great farms spread
out to the westward. There where the Sioux gives its waters to
the Missouri laid the rich plains of Dakota, with mighty granaries and
splendid herds. Within the borders of this excellent city the towers
and homes stood aglow in pride of purpose. The fathers stood erect with
their sons for the call. The goddess of mercy was hearing the tender
pleas of the mothers and daughters to enlist them in her legion of
mercy. And behold! In this city were hundreds of great, strong men
whose faces revealed that they were born in foreign lands ... but ...
with shoulders squared for the cause of right, they too, stood ready
for call.
The radiant sun of that April day then
lowered its light in the west. Sioux City had surveyed her realm, and
found Americans, ALL! |
