In Concord, at Monument Square, is the World War Monument, which has a quote on it from Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The monument is located on the south side of Monument Square, where Bedford Street, Lexington Street, Main Street, and Monument Square. There is a plaza where the rock/plaque is located.
The rock is about six feet tall and four feet square. The plaque is 4 x 2 feet. The plaque has the statement at the top: "In Memory of These Concord men Who Gave Their Lives in the World War." The bottom part has the following text:
"So Nigh is Grandeur to Our Dust
So Near is God to Man
When Duty Whispers Low Thou Must
The Youth Replies I Can
-Emerson"
The verses come from Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem, In an Age of Fogs and Toys. Following is the full poem:
"In an Age of Fops and Toys
By: Ralph Waldo Emerson
In an age of fops and toys,
Wanting wisdom, void of right,
Who shall nerve heroic boys
To hazard all in Freedom’s fight,—
Break sharply off their jolly games,
Forsake their comrades gay
And quit proud homes and youthful dames
For famine, toil and fray?
Yet on the nimble air benign
Speed nimbler messages,
That waft the breath of grace divine
To hearts in sloth and ease.
So nigh is grandeur to our dust,
So near is God to man,
When Duty whispers low, Thou must,
The youth replies, I can."
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