The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-06-04

al Paper Of City and County.
Tne School Flag Presentation.
On Friday, May 10Th, at 10 O'Clock,
Memorial Post g. A. R., the Women's
Relief Corps, and the Cresco Drum
Corps met on the court house park and
marched to the school house, keeping
step to the music OF the band. A large
number OF citizens also went to the school
grounds 10 witness the services.
The exercises were held in the girls
school yard, least end) all Of the teachers
and pupils attending. The program was
a. follows:
Singing america" by the school and
citizens, Miss Bernice Laidlaw ut the or
gan.
Prayer by Rev. F. NJ. Coleman.
Singing Battle Hymn OF the Repub-
lie" by the school and others.
Presentation Of the Flag by Capt. John
E. Peck, IN the following appropriate
and eloquent address:
Commander, Pupils and Teachers OF
the Cresco Public School, Comrades and
Fellow Citizens:
Over century ago the 'Tree
OF Liberty" was planted in Ameri-
can soil, and soon thereafter National
FlaR,-the "Stars and Stripes dear
to the heart Of every American, was un-
furled to the breeze. Through trial and
conflict, by sacrifice and self-denial that
Hog has been sustained and upheld, and
to-day, in the eyes OF the nations OF the
world, il stands as the standard sheet OF
freedom, the glorious emblem OF great
and grand Republic, the symbol OF the
best government the sun, in his course,
looks down upon. To-day it floats in
beauty over a united, peaceful. prosper.
GUS people.
A reunited country, peace and pros
perity: what a glorious legacy for the old
veterans to leave to their posterity! Then
what more remains for them to do?
Their duties are simple; they leave to the
young and rising generation their patri-
otto example. I can not believe it is nee
essary now, or ever will be necessary, to
stir their blood by reference TO the past
deeds OF their heroic aud self-sacrifcing
fathers. believe il We had all persisted
and an emergency should arise, in this
country, that our children and our grand
children would be as ready to respond to
the call Of their country as We were. No
man can tell me that patriotism will die
in our posterity, that when we die we
will leave this country to unworthy
hands-for patriotism is an American in-
herltance.
To these teachers will say that it is
your duty to teach these children to be.
come good citizens, for only in good
citizens do we find true patriots. Teach
them that good citizenship requires the
government to be just, that it shall love
and teach peace and peaceful pursuits,
and that the State and Federal govern
ments shall, SO far as their help is needed,
diffuse education and improve and elevate
the people.
The old veterans have no fears now.
Their work is nearly done, their respon-
sibilities nearly ended; another decade
and most OF them will be sleeping the
sleep that knows no waking" And ere
we Join the ranks OF the ''Silent Grand
Army" nothing could rejoice or cheer
our hearts like the demonstration on
these grounds to-day.
The movement for placing the Ameri-
can flag on every school house IN the
land has no warmer friends or supporters
than the members of the Grand Army Of
the Republic. They love the old flag
with a devotion born of sacrifice, and
wish to see it placed where the youth OF
the land will be inspired to loyalty by its
presence, and under its waving folds
be early taught the lessons OF true patri-
otism and devotion to country.
We meet you here to-day to perform
the pleasing ceremony of presenting the
public school OF Cresco a flag with
which to adorn the staff SO kindly pro-
yided and erected by the worthy Board
of Directors, who SO wisely and we'll are
looking after its interests and welfare.
In behalf of Memorial Post No. ZIG,
Grand Army of the Republic, Dept. OF
Iowa, as its chosen representative to per-
form that duty, place In your hands
"Old Glory" our Countrys Flag. Prize
it for the many noble lives given in its
defense. Revere 1t for the sake OF those
whose hands have borne it in the fore
front of battle. Cherish it for the historic
memories woven and interviewer into Its
every stripe and star. Let it be to you
an inspiration to loyalty, and honor it
as your country's flag. Take it. and il
you will thus prize, revere, cherish anu
honor, we give it into your keeping with
the happy assurance that, If in the future
should come time that will TRY mems
souls" as they have been tried heretofore
in this country, You will be found ready
to .'rally around the old flag, and, If
needs be, willing to lay down your lives
in it's defense.
Acceptance Of the Flag and response
by Prof E. G. Cooley, principal OF the
school, in the following admirable words:
Members of the Memorial Post
1t is eminently proper that you, the de-
tenders of the old flag in times OF treason
and rebellion, should head the movement
to inspire our young people with love and
reverence for the old flag. Your position
gives you a right to call the attention or
the rising generation to the responsible
ty that is SO soon to devolye upon them
the defense of the old flag you have loved
SO we'll. Soon our boys must assume the
responsibilities of citizenship, must show
whether they are worthy OF the trust
reposed in them.
1t is also proper that our attention
should be called to the responsibility OF
Iu0 kCuOOl Ill lAla WIN ~ IASIeA
ing defenders Of the flag. Our public
schools must do something towards turn
ing out intelligent supporters OF our
country's institutions, loyal defenders OF
our country's flag, if they are to continue
to enjoy the confidence and support of
the public. The movement whose object
is to place flag on every school house
in the land Is a recognition OF the public
school as an agency for making patriotic
citizens. Il is also a demand that the
school shall not neglect Its duties IN .nis
matter of making good citizens-for only
good citizens make true patriots. We
accept this flag as an indication OF your
interest in us and our work, and we will
strive to meet the responsibilities devolv-
inc upon us. The presentation Of TINS
noble flag and the ceremonies accompa-
nying it ought to aid us. The presence
OF that flag on our school house ought to
fix associations that will make these
young people better citizens, more devot-
. ,-.-1- kS1A