The National tribune., 1883-10-11
GRAND ARMY TOPICS.
The Wearing of Badges Monuments and Memoria
Halls

Halls.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
have read Comrade Fry's remarks in THE
TRIBUNE of August 10Th, aud Comrade Trips
letter in THE TRIBUNE of September 18th
also, Article x of the Rules and Regulations,
g. A. L. And still / am left in doubt as to
how the rank strap should be worn. Now, we
will suppose that comrade in his own Post is
O. D.; he is Department Inspector and Senior
Vice-Commander-in-Ch He holds each of
these positions, and in the Post as o. d. he
must answer to roll-call and wear the badge
two gilt bars. As an inspector his duty is to
visit Posts and visit them in his official ca
pacity-his own Post as well as otheFs-in
which he would wear his red ribbon, instead of
blue, with the silver star. As Senior Vice
Commander-in-Cbie his duties are to assist the
Commander-in-Chiefb by counsel or otherwise,
and may and doubtless does mean to visit the
Posts in his official capacity,-his own as well
as others Here his rank badge is three silver
stars. Now, it is not the case supposed by
Comrade Fry of a general officer on parade
wearing straps of every position from second
lieutenant to brigadier-general. When the
lieutenant WAS promoted to captain he was no
longer lieutenant, and for that reason he no
longer had the right to wear the ieutenants
straps, and SO on up to his becoming brigadier-
general. But with the case l have put it is
different He still holds and retains each of
the offices, and is expected by his comrades to
perform all of his several duties in each of his
several capacities, and to wear rank badge
that viii inform any member of the Order
what his duties are and what may be expected
of him when on duty or on occasions of cere-
mony. Now, to wear the three badges does
not seem to me to be in disregard of Article TX,
Section 3, Rules and Regulations, but to be in
strict conformity Herewith. As Comrade Fry
says, it may tend to bring the badge proper
!, ali Il y I. 7
spect-into ridicule and contempt. If this is
so, then movement should be set on foot to
change the Rules and Regulations and make
them more explicit The election or appoint
ment to the higher office should involve re-
tirement from the inferior official position in
the Post, Department or Encampment. In
this way uncertainty would be removed, and
no comrade would be found wearing three or
four badges or diferent-colored ribbons ON the
same badge.
Now, Section 3, Article TX, does not seem to
authorize any of the officers of the Order to
wear the official badge at any other time ex-
cept when on duty or on occasions of cere-
mony. Our late Commander-in- Chief Van
Dervoort advises the wearing OF badges ON all
occasions Now, would like a little informa-
tion on this badge question, and one question
which suggests itself is: Should an officer of
the Post, Department or National Encampment
wear simply the comrades badge when outside
of the Post? 1t so. when he is travelling
from one Post to another on his official duties,
in the case / have supposed, he must have with
him at least three badges-that of the comrade
simply, the inspectors, and the Senior Vice
Commander Chiefs, leaving his badge as
o. ID. at the Post or at his home Now, as
have been a member of the Order but short
time, may be little confused on the badge
question, but / desire information, and if any
comrade will set me right l should feel very
| much obliged.
l would like to ask Comrade Trip where
he gets his authority (outside, possibly, of
the Department of MaiRe) for saying that
comrades who do not now and never did hold
any position of rank in the G. A. r. wear the
silk cord of the staff officer? 1t is not
proper, creates confusion, and is much more
! expensive
Now, Section 1, Article TX, provides that
Departments may adopt a uniform for their
own members, and if the Department does not
prescribe one, each Post may adopt one. If the
Department of New York has adopted uni
form our Post at least has not been informed Of
its action, and the Post has practically adopted
the gilt cord and gold-leaf embroidered G.. A.
Z. wreath, not because il was more expensive,
but because they believed it was cheaper in
the end. the material being apparently good,
and something that no eomrade need be
ashamed of. Yours, in F., c. and L.,
E. A. CHAEFEE,
f. F. Weed Post, No. 1858, Dept of N. Y.
n Y