The National tribune., 1882-04-22

the name Of their Grand Army Post.
a HANDSOME FLAG FOR TYLER POST.
Special Correspondence National Tribune,
HARTFORD, Conn, April 1.-The lady mem
bers Of Robert 0. Tyler Post sent to its ball. a
few evenings since, beautiful and costly silk
flag, accompanied by the following letter:
Gentlemen of the Robert 0. Tyler Tost:
We, the representatives of many happy fire.
sides, secured to us by your courage and patri-
otism, ask your acceptance Of this flag, remem-
bering t;.at for these coors and the principles
OF unity, equality, and liberty which they rep
present, you as we'll as your fellow comrades,
have ''cvcn dared 20 die"
Our prayers and tears attended you, as with
floating banners and beat Of the drum We saw
your regiments go forth to the rescue Of our
imperrilcd country, and sadly and silently we
welcomed you back, when, by your thinned
ranks and battle stained flags, tho costly price
you had paid for our homes, was fully revealed
10 us r'- 9r' VIE" hr
Now that triumphs of peace have succeeded.
to the victories of war, we offer you this token
Of our gratitude, hoping that this flag may
wave over many pleasant Reunions of the Rob
crt o. Tyler Post and serve to assure yeu Of
the grateful appreciation of wives, mothers,
sisters, and friends.
A meeting Of the Post was at once called, and
the following letter of acknowledgment and
thanks adcpted:
LADIES: We could not fail to thank you very
sincerely for the flag which you have given Us,
fer it IS the ensign of our country, frightened
by pleasant memories Of the Givers. But VIC
thank you again, and, moreover, because this
new flag comes to us rich in old memories, and
endeared by perronal associations and expert
enccs Of both war and peace.
Many here recall, By contrast with this pre-
scntaton. those days Of twenty years ago, when
they left their fircs;des to follow colors which
wives and brothers. sisters and swecthearts
gave them-colors that led them far in distance
and in peril, but led them home again at last,
as though the worn flags longcd for the hands
that made them. Those flags were home and
country both. They who fought around them
fought for both, and they who died beneath
them died for both
Those times seem very distant now. They
are scarcely within the memory of some who
have Joined in this presentation. But it i.
pleasant to recognize the old feeling in thi. gift,
and TO catch the old inspiration after the lapse
Of two-thirds of a generation.
indeed, We are reminded anew Of what it has
since then been impossible TO forget, that they
VINO kept the homes behind us were the strength
Of our hands and the courage of our hearts;
tina. they rejoiced and mourned with u.s. and
came with us by common suffering to com
mon victory.
We have spoken Of this flag as new, but in
the better sense it IS Old. 1t is like reprint
of the bible--a book that can never be ncw. 1t
is the gift Of longtime friends. 1t tells tho old
stories in the old way, arouses the old cnthusi-
asnts, stimulates the old hopes, and repeats the
old promises. If we may so speak of anything
on earth, we may say of flags that they are Of
an immortal race. They are of the generations
that have passed away and Of the ages that are
to come. They begin with and out-last their
nations. They are historians that all men
know; prophets that all patriots believe.
This flag is longer lived than we, but while
we live we shall greet it in our assemblies and
follow it in our professions, and cherish it in
our hearts, for the sake of those who gave it
and Of the dead who made it dear. Tho day
must come when our hands will cease to carry
il, but we know the day can never come when
we shall cease to love it, or forget to thank the
giyers.