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It was a very impressive service held in the
Christian church Sunday at 2 p.m. in memory of two Oelwein boys who
have "gone west" in the service of their country. On the service flag
displayed on the west wall were noted two golden stars in honor of the
two young men who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country.
A chorus choir composed of singers from the
churches rendered appropriate selections and Dr. Shaffer and Rev.
Gillet assisted Rev. Leisher in the services. The ladies of the W.R.C.
occupied pews in the central section and they bore the American flag as
the emblem of the nation and of their order.
Rev. Gillet offered prayer, referring to the
great sacrifice that is being made that the democracy as taught by
Jesus Christ may have a place on the earth. The choir rendered another
selection and Rev. Leisher delivered the sermon.
Rev. Leisher took for his text the words of
Paul when he wrote: "I have fought a good fight, I have kept the
faith." He referred to the fact that sacrifice is necessary in order to
bring about the advancement of reforms. he referred to the sacrifice
that Abraham was ready to make in offering up his only son. It is
necessary for mankind to make sacrifices and Abraham and others down
through the centuries who have been true to God, have been ready to
offer up the best in their possessions to forward the cause of the
Almighty.
At the present time the American nation is
called upon to offer up the lives of its sons that freedom of worship
and democratic institutions may continue on the earth. The boys of
America are fighting bravely on the fields of France. And the young men
are fighting not for aggrandizement, but for principal. Perhaps never
in the history of the world has a nation made such sacrifices for
principles.
The war has been brought home to our city by the recent
death on a battlefield in France of one of the boys of Oelwein, and
another died in the service of the country in a neighboring state. And
this is but the beginning of the sacrifices to be made.
The mothers who are offering their dearest
treasures on the altar of the country are the greatest heroes in the
world. Somewhere, perhaps on the Marne, under the trees is resting the
body of Ross Reid who fell July 19, while fighting bravely for America.
He was 26 years, 11 months and 16 days of age and he was a young man
popular among his associates. His life was passed in Oran and in
Oelwein when he went to Valley City, N.D., from where he was enrolled
last September in the 59th Regiment of the National Guard, Company E
and went to Camp Dodge for training. Last November he visited his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Reid on a furlough and about three months ago
he went over there with his regiment.
(note: see paper for more to article & specifics on 2nd soldier,
Paul Histed)
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Additional Note - the American Legion in
Oelwein was later named the Ross Reid Post.
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Ross Reid