The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-07-01
The Representative Vermont
Volunteer.

AT the exercises in which the statue
of General Stannard over his grave at
Burlington was dedicated week ago
Saturday, Colonel G. G. Benedict made
the following appreciative address.
General Henry and Trustees oftbe Stan
ndrd Monument Fund: In behalf of
Mrs. Stannard and her daughters &C.
cept this statue, and, speaking for them,
= return their thanks to the state of
Vermont; to the comrades and citizens
who contributed to the fund for the
statue; to the trustees who have so ac-
ceptably and faithfully performed the
duty committed to them; to the citizens
here assembled to do honor to the men,
DRY of General Stannard, and to all who
have had any part in thu erection of
this memorial. These formal words do
not and cannot express the deep sense
of gratitude that lies too deep in their
hearts for words. AS they can never
forget what he was to them as husband
and father, so they can never cease to
remember and to bless those who have
in such graceful and enduring man.
ner expressed appreciation of his merit
and his public service. The imposing
ceremonies with which this monument
was dedicated two years ago this day,
and the eloquent eulogy of General
Stannard pronounced by Judge Veazey
on that occasion, are still fresh in the
recollection of many here present, and
render unnecessary any extended adj
dress at this time. But having had no
opportunity to attend those ceremonies,
from which l was 1000 miles away, l
may be allowed to say, that l rejoiced
then, and rejoice now, in the honorspaid
to the memory of our hero. Knowing
him somewhat intimately, both as
soldier and as man, am glad to stand
here and to testify that his fame was
honestly and fairly won, and that this
granite and bronze are doing worthy
service in perpetuating his men,
DRY. What is it that our state honors
when it erects statues-one here over
his grave and another in distant state
to man who when he became soldier
was humble private citizen, and when
he died held no higher station than that
ofdoorkeeper of the house of representa-
tives? Not wealth, or high station,
surely, or gift of eloquent speech, or
winning address, or any of the arts and
graces of the popular leader gave Stan
nard the place which he occupies in
the remembrance and regard of the
people of Vermont. His fame was
due to no accident. There is no halo
of artificial glory about his name.
Whatever there was in him which
gave him distinction was genuine. He
never pushed himself forward. except
when, in forgetfulness of self, he pushed
into the forefront of danger on the
"perilous edge of battle" The first
Vermonter to volunteer when the flag
was fired on at Sumter, neither then or
at any subsequent time did he seek
rank, or pay, or personal advancement.
Then and always he simply asked to be
put where he could do the most service
to the national cause. What Vermont
honors in him is high patriotism, unset
fish devotion to the public good, eminent
service in great national crisis. The
spirit of self.sacri6ce, which is the chief
ennobling element in the truest patriot
ism, in Stannard had free course and
was glorified. Called into active exer-
else by the danger which threatened the
life of the nation, it absorbed and en-
larged the man. 1t made him despise
danger and disregard exposure, labor
and suffering. 1t returned him thrice
to the field after he had received
wounds which entitled him to an hon
tive to every duty, and when the hour
for action came, it made him intense
keen of sight, prompt to seize opportu
mites, equal to great emergencies. A
body of men as intelligent and as mucf
in earnest as were the Vermont Volun
teers in the great war for the Union
could not fail to recognize these quail
tiles; and higher praise could hardly b.
given to him, as a soldier, than to stat
the fact that if at any time in the las
two years of the war the Vermont sol
diers had been asked to select one mai
to be the representative Vermont vol
unteer, they would with common con
sent have named George j. Stannard
In fact this distinction was bestowe,
upon him when, in 1864, the officers o
all the Vermont organizations assem-
bled at Montpelier, at the call of Colone