Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-05-13
THE FLAG OF THE FREE.
Patriotic Exercises at St Mary
school This Morning

Patriotic Exercises at st Mary's
school This Morning
To-day is one long to be remembered
in the history Of st Mary's school, for
| this morning a handsome American
| flag was presented to the school and
raised with imposing ceremonies. The
gift was from the four divisions of the
A. 0. H.
At 7:3O O'Clock the several divisions of
the order met at their respective head
quarters and marched to st Patrick's
hall. The line was then formed and
marched in the following order to
the school building on Cole street;
American band, Hibernian Rifles, First
division, A. o. H. Sixty-ninth Regi-
ment band, Second division. A. o. H. !;
R. NJ. Bassett Hose Co, Drum Corps of
Birmingham, Third division A. o. H. :
Silver Drum Corps. Fourth division, A.
o. H.
At the school the crowd gath
of the building and st Mary's
convent were handsomely decorated
with American flags and bunting. The
American and Sixty-ninth Regiment
bands, marched into the school yard and
were given positions in front of the
| building, the former at the left of the
entrance and the latter at the right. At
pupils, each carrying small American
| flag. The pupils sang: my Country
It's of Thee" after which County Dele
gate Keenan, took his place on the porch
Of the building where sat the Rev
Fathers Walsh and O'Donnell.
In patiotic language Mr. Keenan, pre-
scented the gift to the school in behalf of
the A. o. H. He said: "Our holy faith
| teaches US that after God comes love of
orl TOD Iu hof nj x>xo
are here to show our love for our coun-
try. The flag is presented first, to St
Mary's school that the children may
love and be ever ready to make sacrifices
for that beloved flag. Second, as a
mark of respect to our beloved pastor.
and lastly to the. good sisters who are
educating our children. Many thou
sands of our people have risked their
lives in defense of that flag, and thou
sands are ever ready to do 80 again. The
good sisters were also found on the bat
tie field. Therefore, accept this flag.
Remember the forty-two stars represent
| the union that is not to be separated.
The red represents the blood shed in de-
fence of it. the blue the purity of the
ballot box. In behalf of the societies
present present it to you that you may
love it and treasure it as the noblest,
grandest flag that any nation can boast
Of"
Mr. Keenan's remarks were followed
| by the "Star Spangled Banner, by the
Sixty Ninth Regiment band, after which
the Rev Father Walsh stepped forward
and accepted the gift. st is with
great pleasure" said the reverend father,
| ''that l accept, in the name OF our pastor,
this beautiful gift: 1t is a flag whose
many Catholic soldier gave up his
life. We should love and defend that
| flag. The Catholic church is the nursery
Of true patriotism and if an enemy ever
| should attempt to bring disgrace on our
country you would find in the front
r. nks children of the Catholic schools
ever ready to defend it. I, therefore, in
the name of our pastor and brother
priests, accept it and hope that God
will bless you ALL"
The pupils sang ''The Flag of the
Free, which was followed by a selection
by the American band and Hail
Columbia by the Sixty Ninth Regi-
ment band.
A few appropriate remarks filled with
patriotism, were made by the Rev Father
O'Donnell, who said that it was with Joy
and gladness that we hail the banner of
| the free as it floats over the land. Next
to duty to God, is duty to country and
we yield to none in our loyalty and de-
votion to their free land and to its flag.
The Catholic children have that patriot
ism and none are stronger to rally round
that flag.
The American band rendered "Rally
Round the Flag" and amid cheers, the
beautiful gift was hoisted over the
building, by Messrs Hyland, Madden,
Phelan and Moran, the presidents of the
four divisions. Another song by the
children. another selection by the Sixty
ninth Regiment band and with three
cheers for the flag and the A. o. H. the
crowd dispersed and the societies took
their places and marched to the New
England station.
The Second division, A. o. H. and
Sixty-Nlnth regiment band were photo
graphed at the rear of the school build
ing. They were arranged in eight pla-
toons.
Fully one thousand people accom-
panied the societies to Hartford, the first
train leaving the New England station
abort $50. The First division turned
out about 100 men, the Second 1856,
Third 80, Fourth IS.
WATERBURY AND MERIDEN.
An Apology From the Silver City in