All honor to the heroes true,

  And to the warriors brave,

Who nobly fought and nobly died,

 America to save .

 To save our grand old Union's strength,

             To save her honor, too, 

To save our loved old stars and stipes, 

  And all that's good and true. 

To save our land from slavery's rule. 

 That killeth like a blight,

And let her stand forth strong and brave

 For God and for the right. 

When we recall the cruel war,

 The perils dark and dread,

From which our land and homes were saved,

 By these our honored dead. 

 

 With bated breath we sing their praise,

  And give them honor due,

And say again with thankful hearts,

 God Bless the boys in blue. 

 

About the author - Clara Hamilton Reed was born in West Brookfield.  She was the granddaughter of Alanson Hamilton for whom West Brookfield's G.A. R. Post was named.  She was well known for her work in the church; as well as, for her numerous published short stories which appeared in newspapers and magazines of her time.

 

Source

Grand Army of the Republic : Department of Massachusetts: Personal War Sketches of the Members of Alanson Hamilton Post No. 160 West Brookfield; type written copy of poem, and newspaper clipping of the obituary of  Clara Hamilton Reed; online images, Brookfields Research (http://www.brookfieldsresearch.com/resources.html : accessed 29 May 2021.) Compiler - Grace D.Wilbur, Clerk of G.A.R.; Copyright 1890 by Louis Everts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Update 10 December  2022       

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