"All the aftermath that so frequently follows in the wake of war still confront the nation, and we now, as ever before, must hold fast to the ancient landmarks and see to it that all of these plagues that threaten so mightily shall be rendered harmless"

This quote by Alexander Henry talks to the long lasting impacts of war and the requirement to protect the nation from further harm. He stresses the importance of adhering to the "ancient landmarks" and acting to prevent the "plagues" that threaten the nation. He acknowledges that war has left the country with a number of hard problems to address, such as poverty, displacement, and trauma. He requires the nation to take obligation for the aftermath of war and to guarantee that the plagues that threaten the nation are rendered harmless. This quote functions as a reminder of the significance of doing something about it to protect the country from additional damage and to make sure that the nation is able to move forward in a favorable direction.