As the man the world had come to know so well took the podium, every sound ceased. He looked out over the crowd and smiled.
"We have come here," he began, "to dedicate this memorial, to hallow this ground. But it has already been hallowed. and as Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysburg, we can only now praise those that sleep beneath it. The ashes of eleven people lay beneath those markers, and some will say they are dead, they have ceased to exist. But I will tell you here and now, they abide in a world beyond this one, where they will rest, for a time, until they choose to return again and be among us, to be loved by others in some other time and some other place. Sadly, one that died here, the twelfth victim of the misunderstanding and hard feelings that grew between the two communities here, one soul, perished here forever. Its hate, its anger, its greed drove it to hurt others because they would not give it what it wanted and as it inflicted pain on others, it inflicted pain on itself, which it could not bear, and drove it to eternal death. As we praise the honored souls that now rest here, an inspiration to us all, we must remember also, the soul that was lost and strive every day to make this world a place where few souls will be lost. But most, the majority, will go on to keep the circle of life forever intact. Oh Holy Lords, divine Light of love and truth, Blessed Mothers and Holy Fathers, we ask You to put your blessings on this ground, to make it a place where You will forever be. Let those who gave their lives here in this just cause, forever be remembered. For it was they who turned the tide, who now make it possible for any in this land to stand up and say 'No, I will not let you use my land for that. I will not let you take it. Go do what you want to do someplace else.' We have won back that right, at a tragic cost. Do not, oh Lords, let that cost be in vain. Let the change that has happened here spread through this nation, and, the world." The Speaker came from around the podium and was handed a ceremonial pitcher and a dipper. He came down off the stage and approached the memorial. "The Father Of All Life shines above us," he continued, "and with The Mother's blood I sanctify this ground." He took out water from the pitcher and then splashed it on the memorial. "In the name of The Fathers," he continued again. He stepped around to the other side and splashed again. "In the name of The Mothers," he continued. He stepped around and splashed again. "In the name of the sons," he stepped around one final time and splashed the last side of the monument, "and in the name of the Daughters," he continued, "I sanctify and bless this ground, and declare it a holy place. Should any willfully damage it, should any willfully profane it, the sentence pronounced on them shall be death! As I have said, so must it be!" The Speaker returned to the podium. He motioned Cheryl and Phil to come up onto the stage. "We come to celebrate the life that was lost here," he continued, "but we will end this ceremony by blessing the new life that has come here." He took the dipper out of the pitcher and went over to Cheryl. He smiled at her, dipped in his finger, and with the water drew the symbol of The Lords on her son's forehead. "Oh, Holy Lords," he prayed, "Blessed Mothers and Holy Fathers, put Your blessings on this child, Victor Raymond Hatfield. Guide him, oh Lords, protect him and strengthen him, that his feet fall in Your gentle ways. And when he is a man let him bear your ways proudly. So must it be!"
He went over to Phil, dipped his finger again, and marked her child's forehead. "Oh, Blessed Ones," he continued, "here is another of Your children, Philipina Petruhane Daniels. Let all I have said for the other be for her, also. Let her be a symbol of Your glory. Let Your wonders shine through her as they shine through her mother and, her father. So must it be!"
"So must it be!" everyone cried.
"Now!" The First Speaker snapped, "It's COLD out here! Let's get into the tents where it's warmer. There's some nice food and beverage in there, that has been provided by all in the community, a little sample of everybody's culture."
As the banquet was concluded the sheriff pulled himself away from his family and went over to The First Speaker and his wife. "I know you're pestered day in and day out," he apologized, "but I have your dieting book here, which has done a LOT for me. I wonder if you would autograph it for me, put some sentiments in it, BOTH of you?"
The First Speaker smiled, took the book and handed it to his wife. "Put in something appropriate for both of us," he remarked, "sign it, then I'll scribble."
His wife quickly wrote and handed the book back to her husband. He signed it, closed it and handed it back to the sheriff. An aid approached. "We hate to rush you, First Speaker," he announced, "but you have to get to the air field. You have an appointment in New York tomorrow."
The First Speaker shook his head, rose, and helped up his wife. "Duty calls!" he remarked. "No rest for the wicked!"
"Even less for those who hunt them," someone cried.
"Here! Here!" everyone joined in, raising their glasses.
The First Speaker made his way to the car and climbed in. As it began to drive off the sheriff opened the book and read the sentiments.

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