The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-28
THE FIRST FLAG RAISED.
over the Centre Street School
Yesterday.

At o'clock yesterday afternoon the flag
presented to the Centre street school by ex-
Mayor Deering, and that secured by Coun-
Gilman Murphy and Mr.. Larkin, were raised
on pole on the top of the building, the
original intention to extend the pole out over
the yard being abandoned on account of the
trees in the yard. The pupils of the school
were gathered in the large hall and were
called to order by Principal Milliken, who,
with Mayor Melcher, Superintendent of
Schools Lord, and Mr.. MCGOWAN of the
school committee occupied seats on the plat
form. Mr.. Milliken read the note from Mr..
Deering, which accompanied the flag:
PORTLAND, Nov. goth, 1885,
To ne Principal of the Centre Street School,
P ease blige me by presenting. to the children
Of the Centre Street Grammar and Primary School
The S Flag Of our sn Country accSmuanied with
oblige Yours very truly,
He said he hoped that as the children
went In and out of school every day and
looked up at the flag. their love of it and of
the country Of which it is the emblem
would In increased. He was also
glad, he said, to be able to present
ohotuCl ndSs WuiOh hdA pOOh oOCutOu NY Ml.
Murphy and Mr.. Larkin; and especially that
the Centre street school should be the first
10 the city to respond to the movement which
Is sweeping over the country of giving OBJ
ject lessons in patriotism by placing flags on
the school buildings.
He then introduced Mayor Melcher who
expressed his pleasure at being present on
the occasion of the raising of the first flag
upon schoolhouse in the city. am, he
said, in full sympathy with the movement,
but it had seemed to me that it would be
better for the city to furnish the flags and
the poles. Enthusiastic friends of the school
however. have got ahead Of the city and
have presented these beautiful national en-
blems. de then gave an interesting account
OF how the students at Bates College, of
whom he was one, when the news of the
fall of Sumter came, spent the whole night
In making fiag-pole, and early the next
morning raised flag on it and then marched
to Hon. w. p. Frye's house and called him
out to make speech. Boys, he said, those
students were not much older than you are.
They vowed as they stood around the flag to
defend it. They hardly knew what they
VSAS phOhAoih6 tuCuf Dub UClUEc lUuS tuey
learned, for nearly every one of that class
went to the war and many of them were at
Appomattox when the flag of treason went
down before the flag of the Union. l trust
that you will never have to defend the flag
as these boys did. for hope there will never
be another war but if there is one, the flag
must be defended. No other flag must be
allowed to float over any part of this nation.
They have no place here. And whenever you
pass under this flag hope you will resolve
to defend 1t always and to be firm, true and
patriotic.
Mr.. MCGOWAN was then called upon. He
modestly replied that he could not make
speech. but that he was glad to be present on
this happy event. He was glad that the
Centre street school should be the first in the
city to show its loyalty to the country. He
was sure that the scholars and teachers
should be as he himself was, grateful to ex-
Mayor Deering for his generosity and to
Mayor Melchor for coming to take part in
the exercises. He said that he had no need
to repeat the story of the war, after the
Mayor, but simply to say that he was hap
Ply and proud to be under the flag of the I'M
ion. You don't realize, boys, he said, what
blessing 1t is to be free from the iron hand
OF oppression and in a land of freedom.
You should resolve every day as you come
into the school that you will defend the flag
in whatever way it may be necessary; to
fight for it if it is necessary at any time.
This is the flag of freedom, and we must sus-
tain it. In closing Mr. MCGOWAN impressed
upon the scholars minds the necessity of
being good citizens. Meaning by this, he
said, to be patriotic, charitable to neighbors
and submissive to law and order.
Mr.. Milliken then thanked the gentlemen
for their kindness in being present, to which
the Mayor replied that he thought the
thanks were on the other side; that he felt
1t a privilege to be present and to take part
10 the exercises of the day. After singing
two verses of America, the exercises were
closed in the school room, teachers and visi-
tors going out into the yard, while Mr.. Lar
kin and :. w. Fletcher raised Mr.. behring's
flag on the staff.
The other flag was draped from the win
dow in front of the building. After the flags
we're raised, Mr.. Milliken called for tlree
cheers for the flags, which were given with d
will.
The following card of thanks was sent to
ex-Mayor Deering:
Hon. John ". Deeritg:
The SCH liars aud teachers of the Centre street
school desire TO thank you heartily for your gen
erosity In presenting beautiful American ensign
appreciated, carefully guarded, and all that it
symbuizes borne IL mind Whenever the scholars
look at 1t as 1t floats above the schoo house,
(Signed) JOHN A. MILLIKEN,
DIV