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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 293
ment of the national homes whereby the members of this home suffering
from any serious eye trouble, such as cataract, etc., can be admitted to
the hospital of the Dayton home for operation and treatment, as this
home employs an experienced oculist to take care of this work.
It might be interesting to know that the daily routine in the hospital
of the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home embodies regular visits of the
surgeons at least once each day, and that there were in the hospital the
past winter 300 bed patients at one time. The records of the hospital
further show that since the opening of this home more than 7,000 members
have been cared for in this building.
A great many have wondered Avhat these buildings Avill be used for
after the soldiers are gone. That cannot be answered, for the end of the
institution as a soldiers home will not be in evidence for some years
to come. The ages among the Civil war veterans at the present time
range from sixty-five to ninety-five. These grizzled old heroes are just
a remnant of the most loyal army of soldiers that ever struggled for the
possession of a great and vital principle, and with this army of General
Grant, the struggle finally resolved itself, through mortal combat, into
one titanic effort for freedom. The nation and state have not forgotten
their soldiers, as is evidenced in the many splendid institutions erected
and'maintained solely for their comfort in afflicted and declining days.
Millions of dollars have been given to the veterans of war in the form of
pensions, but this amount, large as it may seem to some, is lost to sight
when the thousands of young lives, snuffed out on the field of battle or
sapped in the prison pens are brought to view. Thousands of wives were
thus robbed of their husbands, countless numbers of children were left
destitute, and sorrow and mourning was no stranger to any home. All
praise to the loyal people of fair Columbia for the manner in Avhich the
ante bellum pledges have been redeemed and indelibly stamped upon
the pages of her history. She will always have the respect of her children,
and in the moment of her trials, their strong arms and hearts will
be ever ready to support and defend. To the people of this land let the
motto ever be, "For what he was and all he dared, remember him today."