The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-09
NAVAL VETERANS.
A suggestion to Form a National Association

Suggestion TO Form National Association.
To THE EDITOR: In connection with the
National Encampment of the GAR at st.
Louis next year the undersigned suggests the
ACCESSIBILITY Of forming a national association
of naval veterans.
Surely this matter has been deferred long
enough, and it is high time we came TO the
front The navy has an honorable record Of
service not only in the war of the rebellion,
but in ali the conflicts in which we have been
engaged since the formation of our Governments
and the memory Of its glorious achievements
and brilliant exploits should not be permitted
70 die out, but should rather be perpetuated for
the emulation Of our children when we the
actors shall have passed away
The central location of St. Louis. the facili-
ties for reaching it, and the extraordinary re-
duction in rates of transportation usually
accorded to veterans would all combine TO make
the time and place most desirable. There are
at present five naval veteran associations in
as many different parts of the country and no
doubt they all would send representatives 70
the formation of q national organization.
OF these local associations the one in Phils-
delphia is the oldest, and from its membership
Naval Post of the GAR. has been organized,
and into this Post no one but naval veterans
are admitted to membership. It has been the
privilege of the writer to associate occasionally
with shipmateS of Chicago, Hartford Conn;
New York, and elsewhere and my attention is
frequently called to the prOpriety of forming
national association to meet annually in con-
neetion with the GAR.
OF the $4,000 men who served in the navy
| during the war surely there is enough living
| even at this late day to guarantee the success
| of the proposed movement
Where arc the men who, under Du Point az
Port Royal, made treason bite the dust the
men who served with Dahlgren at Charleston,
GOldsbOrOugh in North Carolina Farragut &c
New Orleans and Mobile, and Porter at Will
mngton? Surely they are not all gone to their
| final muster.
Where are the heroes of Wilkes's flying SQUAD
ron who, by their bravery and vigilance, added
| S60O00,0O0 of prize money to our National
| Treasury? These are the men who one cold
| day in January, 1865, made it warm for the
rebels of Fort Fisher
| The glOrious achievements of Farragut's men
on that August morning in Mobile Bay will
| continue to live in the memory of a grateful
| Nation when the actors are no more and before
| we are called away to that bOurn from which
no traveller e'er returns" let shipmate meet ship
mate once more and talk over those hours Of
| trial and danger which should, and I trust WILL
unite us together more closely in the bonds OK
| fraternity, Charity and Loyalty.
| Now, particularly request that all who are
| willing and anxious to make the proposed Re-
| union a success shall communicates with me so
| that steps may be taken during the Winter, to
/ arrange program and make cur first gather
/ ing what it ought TO be--a success. And con-
| tinue to meet annually hereafter ia different
| cities until we haul down our pennant and go
\ out of commission fOrever.--WM. SIMMONS,
/ Secretary, FaTraguC Veteran Association, 1870
i Wharton street, Philadelphia.