Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 156, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1918 — MARCH OF THE DEFENDERS [ARTICLE]

MARCH OF THE DEFENDERS

Oh, knights of hope and Spring-tide marching, marching, When shall you wear the flowers again, and not the blood-stained thorn? Oh, young and dear, who come to lay the splendor of your life away. We know not what immortal bloom from your brave-dust is born 1 For hark! a sound of marching marching, marching— We hear the thunder of the steps of Michaels’ host in Heaven; The Force which struck the fiery Star that kindled to a lurid bar, And fell as a red meteor when the morning clouds were riven. And they shall come—the gallant dead —to meet us, marching— The souls that made of earth’s dark wars a golden memory. The Maid of France shall ride again, grave captains at her side again, And Nelson’s spirit on the wave shall call to victory. Oh, hosts of light, that strive and die, —oh, great ranks, marching, Still hold aloft the deathless rose, your hope of years to be! Where ruin marked the steps of wrong, again the Spring shall break in song, And valiant lilies, white and red, shall flower from sea to sea. —Marion Couthouy Smith of the Vigilantes.