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Michigan Veterans Facility, Sparta, MI, May 30, 1951
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Michigan Veterans Facility, Sparta, MI, May 30, 1951
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D14, folder "Michigan Veterans Facility,
Sparta, MI, May 30, 1951" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech
File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D14 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
25
MEMORIAL DAY SPEECH BY REPRESENTATIVE GERALD R. FORD, JR.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1951 1 Sporta, Michigan
How fitting and appropriate that on this Michigan occasion, throughout the
United States, a patriotic and grateful American people gather to pay their
homage and respect to those of the Nation's sons who have fought their country's
battles.
In all our splendid cities, in every town, village, and hamlet,
Americans pause at this hour to observe another Memorial Day. It is reassur-
ing for the future of our country to know that in the busy strife for existence,
and the terrible stress of the times, we as one people can lay aside the
material things of life to pause in reverence to honor those magnificent
veterans of our armed forces who have answered the last call by making the
supreme sacrifice.
In instituting the great tradition of Memorial Day in 1868 General
Logan said, "It is our purpose to inaugurate this observance with the hope
that it will be kept from year to year while a survivor of the war remains to
honor the memory of the departed." How faithfully the veterans of the Civil
War have honored this request and kept this trust will be freely attested by
the past generations of Americans who have lived during the lifetime of the
veterans of that great struggle. As the very last of the old comrades muster
out and fall in with the ranks of that silent army, and when the roll of the
drum beats its last tattoo and shall fall upon no familiar ears, we shall
still remember, observe and commemorate this day. We by our presence and
participation in these ceremonies commemorate not alone the memory of those
who have died; but in addition on this day rededicate ourselves anew to the
living spirit of those who have died that this great Nation might live.
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
Page Two
The Revolutionary War won us our existence as a nation; the Civil
War ratified and confirmed it in blood; the Spanish-American War proved
that we were willing to fight for the extension of the principles of freedom
to the appressed peoples of the American Hemisphere; the two world wars
emphasized the purity of these motives, and evidenced to the world that Americans
were willing to die that our ideals and principles in Government based on the
doctrine of human dignity might be disseminated throughout the globe.
It is to the credit and glory of this country that we have never will-
ingly sought war. We have never entered war for the purpose of commercial
advantage nor of national expansion. Neither greed nor selfishness has ever
motivated America's entrance into war. Always this Nation was impelled to
enter war for the sake of preserving the freedom of our people and the freedom
of others. As a result of this unselfish American spirit our Nation is at the
very pinnacle in world affairs.
Although we have fought and won two wars in the last 35 years and are
now involved in another, in the long view war at best does not help civiliza-
tion. Every war sets civilization back for generations. The toll of war is
inestimable. Fundamentally money which is spent for weapons to slaughter the
people of other nations is money ill spent. Money which is spent to build
ships to wage battles on the seven seas could better be used to foster the
commercial and the cultural growth of our people. Money spent to teach the
youth of our land to kill the youth of other lands is money squandered. I do
not deny that military action for defense of our way of life has been essential
in the past. It may be necessary in the future despite our hopes and plans for
peace. Nevertheless we must continue to set our ultimate goal as peace, not
war, for only through peace can civilization march forward.
BERALD FORD VIBRARY
Page Three
In this crucial hour of the World's history it is important to remind
ourselves that we are not resisting merely a century-old concept labeled
Communism, or a revolutionary state dating from 1917. What we are really
combating both at home and overseas are forces of military aggression and
tyranny, evil under whatever banner. We are struggling against the police
state which would deny free inquiry, free religion, free art, free music,
free thinking - all the liberties and rights of man. What we are opposing
in America and elsewhere throughout the world is not just Communism, but
treason and subversion and sabotage. For the future well being of mankind our
best efforts must be dedicated to the destruction of these diabolical evils.
To destroy these insidious forces and for the preservation of our free-
doms, the citizens of this great Republic must act collectively at home. Abroad
we must act collectively with our allies if the treacherous forces of total-
itarianism are to be contained and eventually destroyed.
To be successful at home or abroad our policies must be based on sound
and righteous principles. We cannot and must not sacrifice principle for
expediency. If the United States and its allies are to have the respect
and support of the 800 million people of Asia and others behind the Iron
Curtain, we must convince them by our actions that our intentions are above
reproach.
Korea is a case in point. At the end of World War II, Russia and
the United States without the prior approval of the 30 million people of Korea
or their representatives determined that this Nation should be divided at the
38th parallel. The north was placed under the heel of Soviet domination; the
southern area was left to our jurisdiction. History records no logical
explanation for this arbitrary division of the Korean people. It was
expedient with no relationship to principle.
GERALD singwo LIBRARY
Page Four
It is true the United Nations including our government solemnly
promised the Koreans their country would be united and freed. For several
years after World War II American troops in sizeable force were garrisoned
in Korea to make certain the Communists from the north would not take over
while the diplomats endlessly negotiated. Then in June 1949 those in con-
trol of our foreign policy deliberately withdrew our forces from South Korea
leaving 20 million Koreans helpless against the Russian trained North Korean
troops. It was inevitable that the Reds from the north would fill this vacuum
by aggression.
The United States and some of our allies are now making a valiant effort
to recover from these blunders and to re-establish a free and United Korea as
a bulwark against Communism. There is no point in reminding you that this
great military effort has taken a terrific toll in combat casualties.
This horrible destruction in human life and property might well have
been avoided if our foreign policy makers in 1945 had not sacrificed "principle
for expediency". The decision to split Korea in the first instance was not
based on sound long range considerations. Certainly the decision to withdraw
our troops in 1949 was short sighted for our leaders knew the South Koreans
were ill prepared to defend themselves against the ruthless Communist aggressors
from the north. The whole free world is suffering today because principle was
forgotten and expediency prevailed in this instance.
It seems appropriate on this occasion to call your attention to a
letter from a retired Army Captain who recently lost his son in the battle-
fields of Korea. This father well expresses what many of our citizens have
felt over the past months. It reads as follows:
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
Page Five
"I have just buried my son at Arlington, a boy who in
dying earned the award next in rank to the Medal of Honor, the
Navy Cross.
"My son was killed by a piece of metal; a piece of metal
shipped to the enemy in all likelihood by our so-called allies
whose continuing recognition and support of our enemy will long
live in infamy.
"He was killed by a piece of metal brought down over
supply lines we were forbidden to bomb, and made into ammunition
by power from Korean dams we were forbidden to destroy; a piece of
metal whose transportation was protected by Red planes we were
forbidden to pursue and shoot down.
"The name for the reason this and other bits of metal
were transported and protected until they could kill this boy and
other thousands of American boys is a justly hated and dishonorable
one - it is appeasement.
"Our leaders prefer to call it by another name and they
excuse it on the grounds of expediency. It has, they say, given
us more time - which is but a paraphrase of, 'peace in our time. 1
It has, they say, kept us out of a big war. Those excuses are but
echoes of the words of the man with the umbrella at Munich.
"This boy, these boys, fought and died without hope or
chance for victory. When before in our history has America ever
committed such a crime against its fighting sons? Appeasement tied
one of their hands; the Reds tied the other, and so shackled they died.
"The reasons for paying blackmail are always compelling, and FORD
the alternative to paying it is always horrible. Pay or have your
GERALD LIBRARY
Page Six
house burned down; pay or have your child murdered. The reasons
today are no less compelling - pay or have World War III, pay or
have Washington atomic-bombed.
...
Nevertheless appeasement or paying blackmail is wrong and
does not work. The child held for ransom has already been killed;
the decision to burn your house down has been made no matter how much
blackmail you pay. Today the Russian decision as to whether and when
to attack will not be altered by our hand-tying appeasement.
"We are paying with beloved human lives to buy time that
we might have for nothing. Our blackmail payments in American
blood purchase neither time nor security."
The words of that fine father seem to express the long pent up
feeling of many of our citizens, particularly those who have loved ones on
the battlefields in far off lands. It has seemed paradoxical that American
G.I.s and a limited number of fighting men from our allies should be valiantly
battling the enemy in Korea while less than all out opposition to the Chinese
Reds and their objectives has prevailed in high diplomatic and commercial circles.
Until very recently United Nations policy in reference to Korea
and related matters was indecisive to say the least. The United Nations and
our own diplomats were unfortunately straddling the fence. On the one hand
our G.I.s were fighting an all-out war against Communism on the Korean penin-
sula. On the other hand many of our allies were freely shipping strategic
and critical war materiel to the enemy. In addition, American policy makers
in the Department of State were not forthrightly dedicated to the total exclu-
sion of Red China from a seat in the United Nations. Still further there was
no clear and unequivocal policy in reference to Formosa. Some policy makers
GERALE FORD LIBRARY
Page Seven
in influential diplomatic circles in the United Nations and the United
States seemed willing and almost anxious to turn this military stronghold
over to the Communists.
Such unworthy fence straddling on basic policy matters has
confused and disheartened our boys on the front lines and bewildered our
citizens at home. Not long ago a rural constituent in a letter in com-
menting on our Korean policy had this to say, "Fence straddling is no
solution to any problem. What kind of eggs would my hens lay if I put
the hens on the top edge of a fence for their daily operation".
4
It is encouraging to report that in recent weeks there
has been a stiffening determination and a straightening of our collective
policies in the struggle against Communist aggression in Korea and else-
where. The United Nations through collective action is now acting to
prevent the flow of war materiel to the Communists in the Far East. The
United States is now staunchly committed diplomatically and militarily
to the preservation of Formosa's status quo. The Red China government is
not to be admitted to the United Nations under our present policies. We
are assured that the Chinese Communists cannot "shoot their way" into the
United Nations. These recent developments on the diplomatic front have
undoubtedly encouraged our troops on the battlefields and bolstered the
morale of our citizens at home. Let us hope and pray that we will not
again fall into the trap of fence straddling and the sacrifice of principles
for expediency.
At this perilous hour in the history of our Nation we must
FORD & LIBRARY GLRALD
Page Eight
have a program for action, a plan that will maintain the strength and
productivity of our domestic economy and at the same time prevent further
Communist aggression against ourselves and our allies. I strongly suggest
and recommend the following:
First, our military strength in combination with that of our
allies must be of sufficient physical force to stop Communist aggression
against the free peoples of the world. American military strength is vital
and essential but it must be closely coordinated and correlated wi th the
ability of our economy to sustain such unproductive drains on our natural
resources. A point of equilibrium - not too big, not too small - is a necessity,
for our Armed Forces of the requisite size may have to be mobilized for a
considerable period during the struggle between freedom and totalitarianism,
Second, the soundness of our domestic economy must be preserved
at all costs. The gravest danger to the United States today may well be
inflation rather than communism. Upon the stability of the American economy
depends the stability of the free world. We have lost much ground to inflation
in the past months. Some losses can be regained if all our people are suf-
ficiently resolute and unselfish and our leaders assume the statesmanship
which the times require.
Third, there must be a higher standard of public service in
executive, legislative and judicial offices throughout America. The decline
in Public morals must be checked. It can be checked if there is a sufficient
public awakening to the inherent danger. This can result by exposure and
analysis, and a long needed resurgence of over-all morality.
Fourth, the United Nations must be strengthened and improved.
In 1945 it was founded in a hope that it would solve all international
GERALD FORD ABRART
Page Nine
problems and be the means of achie ving an everlasting world peace. The
organization has been successful to a degree in the past. It is still the
best hope for future international security. Obviously revisions are desir-
able in its basic structure. However, mere changes in the charter will not
alone achieve the desired results. Substantial and certain success for the
United Nations will inevitably come to pass only when all the people and
the governments of the free world subdue selfish aims for the common good.
Fifth, last but not least, we must proclaim and clarify to
ourselves, to all the citizens of the free world, and to those unfortunates
behind the Iron Curtain the spiritual significance of the free system, as
the true and liberating revolution of human history. With the highest motives
this must be set forth in very practical terms; it must bring hope of relief
and comfort to the suffering masses in backward nations who through all their
history have not had the benefits of our system of government which is
avowedly dedicated to human dignity.
In closing, although we may be hundreds of miles away, let us
bow our heads in honor of a man we never knew, yet a man known to all, the
Unknown Soldier enshrined in Arlington National Cemetery. He is dead now,
and he lies in a tomb of polished marble whose splendor would surprise him.
People come from everywhere across this land to stand before his grave at
Arlington with their heads bowed, their eyes serious, their hearts filled
with mourning for this man they never knew.
Because he wore a uniform when he died, they call him the
Unknown Soldier. He was a good soldier, though fighting was never his busi-
ness. He was a man of peace, like all Americans.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
Page Ten
He was born on a farm in Michigan
...
or perhaps in a
miner's cottage in Pennsylvania, a tenement in the Bronx, a ranch house in
Texas, a duplex apartment on Park Avenue. One can't be sure from whence he
came but that is unimportant in this great land. One doesn't know his name
or his business; whether his grammar was good; what books he read; what church
he went to; which way he voted; how much money he had.
Was he a writer, a bookkeeper, a truck driver, a surgeon, a
lumberjack, an errand boy, a student? Was he telling a joke, or cursing his
sergeant, or perhaps writing to his family, when the missile came?
We don't know, it really doesn't matter. For when they picked
this man, from among all our nameless dead, he was lying quiet in a closed
coffin, and known only to God.
We do know that he is deserving of our unending honor and
respect. For, whoever he may be, we feel certain he must have believed, as
we do, in the equality of men, the promise of men, the duty of men to live
justly with each other and with themselves.
That is why we stand here with our heads bowed reverently in
honor of the stranger who is our brother, our father, our son, our contryman,
our friend.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD