Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-09

| thanks for the kind and friendly greeting
| which we have received from the people OF
this city, and Mr. Mayor | assure you that
| the Grand Army comrades will ever keep in
| memory the pleasant event of the fourteenth
annual reunion here at the city of Mineral
1 Point.
| For fourteen years past the Grand Army
| OF the Republic have held these Reunions,
| at thirteen different places in Southwestern
and at every place have met with
| old comrades feel very grateful to the kind
people of Southwestern Wisconsin, for the
pleasant times which they have spent in
| your cities and towns while attending these
| Seunions. 1t gives the old boys great pleas
ure to receive the many acts of kindness
from your hands: it says to the old comrades
| you were right in 1861 to 65 in enlisting and
doing your part in helping to put down the
uhOly Rebellion; and by your kind acts and
generous hospitality to the old boys, it says
| to us that we believe you are right in 1893.
In keeping up these annual reunions, it
says to US, KIND friends, by your great num-
and receive at every place We go, that you
| are with US now, and | assure you that we
appreciate your Kindness and the good feel
ing shown toward the Grand Army of the
Republic.
The good people of the different cities and
towns OF Southwestern Wisconsin have made
it possible for the old comrades to meet in
these annual reunions and have a friendly
visit. and talk over old times, revive old
acquaintances, and form new ones, and for
| this privilege we thank the people of this
city. The old boys, and we call ourselves
old, because it has been over thirty years
since some of us enlisted and as most of us
are on the shady side of fifty, we are getting
old; but we feel young and act almost like
young boys, SO some people say When we
meet at these reunions we talk over old times
and it makes US feel young again. we feel as
the old song says:
1--WE are the boys, the gay old boys, who
went in '61,
Well not forget old times my boy, when
you and L were young"
Now, my kind friends, we are glad to see
this day, the large gathering at this reunion;
it makes the boys of 81 to 65 feel young; it
makes them think of the time when the peo-
pie of the north were sending good cheers,
and the women-God bless them-were send
ing US good things for the sick and wounded.
from every city and town in the North; and
why should not the old boys have grateful
old boys by the way we are received, year
after year, that the good people have not
forgotten us.
that we shall hold these reunions; for the
most of us are on the shady side of life, and
a great many are breaking down from service
be the
rising generation, which gather at these
reunions every year will keep the old flag on
give it for safe keeping, and we feel safe in
saying, that you will protect 1T as the Old
bows have done.
detain you longerNyith my remar ks, for we
have many good speakers in the city and on
the stand, who can entertain you better than
/ can; So again, kind friends, on behalf of
the comrades here assembled, we thank you,
and feel very, grateful for this kind greeting
from the good people of this city, and South
western Wisconsin.
Gen. A. 81. Whitney, of Baraboo,
followed in an able speech.
Col. Pier, of Milwaukee, will deliver
the address this afternoon; Mrs Helen
H. Charlton will read an original poem,
and the remainder of the programme
will be carried out.
The general attendance is very large,
and the old soldiers present number
nearly five hundred.