Huntsville gazette., 1890-12-13
G. A. r. ADDRESS
calling Upon Grand Army Veterans to
uather at Decatur. Ill, the birthplace
VI the Organization, in 1891, to CeIe-
Orate the Silver Anniversary.

caIiing Upon Grand Army Veterans to
rather at Decatur. Ill, the birthplace
OF the Organization, in 1891. to CeIe-
orate the Silver Anniversary.
The council of administration, Illinois
department, G. A. R., has officially pro-
mulgated the following address to the
comrades of Illinois and the United
States:
10 THE COMRADES OF THE GRAND ARMY OF
THE kEPUBLIC:-Our organization having
reached the quarter centennial of its exist
ence, the twenty fifth anniversary of the
muster OF the first post of the G. A. R., oc-
ours ON the 9Th day of April, 1891 1t is
deemed fitting and proper that this ami
yersary be-celebrated in the city of Decatur,
Ill, the home of and the place where our la
/ mented comrade, DR.. 3. L. Stephenson, and
others first organized and gave life in fra
ternity, charity and loyalty to our noble or
der that has grown to membership of 450,-
ooo comrades, whose services for our common
country, in war as well as peace, have been
Tor the honor and purity of American citizen
ship, flag untarnished and Union pre-
served
An organization whose ecomradeship knows
no rank, race or color; whose fraternity is as
broad as the field of azure blue, and as true
as the stars that emblazon it; whose charity
is based in common humanity that knows
no condition, save only that the needy were
loyal to the flag, to all whom it extends a
helping hand, to comrade, wife, widow or
children that, with its auxilares, the Wom-
ans Relief Corps, Ladies of the G. A. R., Sons
and Daughters of Veterans has disburSed in
charlty since the birth of the G. A. X. q sum
exceeding $5000,O00, and during the last year
more than 500, ,00O
Our organization has been instrumental in
building homes, both National and State, for
the disabled defenders of the Union that has
preserved on marble tablets in National
cemeteries the names of loyal men who gave
their lives for the defense of the country, and
has set apart and hallowed the Both day of
May as a permanent National memorial,
dedicated to the memory of the dead; that
teaches loyalty to the National Union in
every post meeting, camp fire and encamp-
ment, and exacts as a condition to member
ship that test of loyalty which faltered not
when our country was in danger, but freely
offered life, health, fortune and liberty, that
the land and Government of our forefathers
might be preserved and transmitted to our
children from generation to generation
therefore be it
ReS0tUed, That the twenty fifth annual En-
campment of the department of Illinois, G.
A. R.. be held in the city of Decatur, Ill, on
the 7th, Sth and 9th days of April, 1891; that
Tuesday be set apart for an observance OF
the anniversary by a parade of all exsol-
diers and sailors of the Union army, and for
such other exercises as may be appropriate
and fitting for the occasion, and that the en-
campment convene at ten oclock on Wednes
day, the Sth day of April, 1891.
To the celebration of this anniversary we
invite all comrades to join with us and par
ticipate in making this a memorable day tc
the Grand Army of the Republic.
General Veazy. the commander-in.
chief, and his staff officers, have notified
the local committees that they will be
in attendance at the silver anniversary
celebrat tion.