The Key West Citizen Newspaper, May 23, 1941, Page 3

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1941 OUR ARSENAL OF Once again, in a world at war, Americans unanimously salute the memory of those ee ~=6who have died that we might live in peace and freedom. ; Since last Memorial Day great events have occurred, America has undertaken to become the arsenal of dem- ocracy. We are pledged to provide the weapons of defense for those brave men and nations standing in the path of the world’s new tyrants, But more than this, America is an arsenal of faith— a living faith that men of all races and cultures can build av end n based on reason and justice. It is against this faith that the dictators have un- leashed their 1 itiest Ww skies, but 2pon—not bombs from the a aimed at the roots of tion bombs” they might s to destroy our national ch is the keystong of THE KEY WEST CITIZEN As Vice-President Wallace declared in a recent coast-to-coast broadcast::"The Nazis have pursued their policy of undermining the morale of nation after nation as a means of ‘softening it up,’ as they phrase it, for conquest. And what is this ‘softening up’ process? It is simply to stir up prejudice, discord, conflict and confusion in the population. For the Nazis know what too many of us are likely to forget: That the real inner strength of a people is its unity of purpose, its devotion to certain basic principles of justice, truth and democracy, which are beyond dispute. If doubts are raised regarding these prin- ciples, political action is short-circuited, and im- potence and chaos can result. By promoting prejudice, by turning men of different faiths against each other, by capitalizing on every politi- cal and economic controversy, a nation can be so weakened that its resistance to military aggression is destroyed." As members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States—and as comrades of those soldiers, sail- ors and marines who gave their blood in defense of American ideals—we voice this pledge to our country and this warning to all dictators: The American arsenal of faith will never cease to create the spirit of freedom and fellowsHiip which has made this nation strong, We, the veterans of America, proud of the variety of our national origins and religious faiths, will stand firm against all efforts to divide us. In steadfatt con- fidence that the principles of democracy will yet triumph throughout the world, we will keep its light burning in America. We will never betray the memory of those who have died to keep America free. Our children.and our children’s children shall never forget the sacrifices and devotion that have kept us “one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” VETERANS or FOREIGN WARS of ibe United States