The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-09
FLAG DAY Ar THE HOME
Thousand of Flag te.rers to Marcf
Through LeavenwOrth's Streets

| Thousand of Flag Hearers to Marcn
Through LeavenwOrth's Streets
Leavenworth. Kan, May SHAY 2
has been designated as fag-day at the
| soldiers home, and the program viii
prove one Of the most interesting events
| in the history of the state. Ii is believ-
red that 1000 people will be at the home
| that day, and the parade Of 1000 vet
Grams and 5000 school children, each
carrying the stars and stripes, will be
| q scene surprising in beauty anything
ever beheld. This is the work of the
members Of the Kelley Veterans league
AT the home. Some months ago il was
decided 10 interest the public schools
Of the city to drill for prizes and an
offer of a beautiful silk flag with a
staff nine feet in length was made 10
the grade of each of the eight classes
showing the most proficiency in the
flag drill
The subject was presented TO the
board Of education and ii fell right into
line. Captain Robinson Of the home, 4
veteran Of thirty years service, was
detailed 10 visit the public schools and
instruct the little ones in the drill. Next
week a committee of the board Messrs.
Taylor and Edmonds, and Governor
Smith of the home, will visit the schools
and announce the winners Of the f1ags.
These will be presented at the home on
the forenoon of May %. The parade will
move at o'clock. Between each vet
eran two of the school children will
march so that the columns viii be
twelve deep, and as fully 5000 people are
expected to be in line il can be expected
that this column, with the same numb Der
nf r. will he II % Orr n
going many miles to see. The column
will be formed along the main avenue,
march down and around TO the left of
the lake and back to the great flag staff,
the highest in the United States, 175
feet. When the head of the column
reaches the flag staff the little ones will
be massed about it and the grand band
stand near there and sing the "Star
Spangled Banner" and America" I'M
der the direction of Professor Myrelles.
Then will follow the raising of the large
garrison flag. This will be folded in the
form of a cooked hat, and within il will
be deposited 1000 miniature flags,
When the great flag reaches the top OF
the staff it will be unfurled TO the
breezes and the little miniature flags
will be carried by the breeze in every
direction. A national salute will be
fred at the same time by a detachment
of artillery from Fort Leavenworth.
This will conclude the exercises for the
day. The school children will picnic on
the ground the entire day and the keys
Of the home are to be turned over TO
them. Transportation facilities will be
taxed to their utmost to carry the peo-
pie from the city to the home This
alone is giving the committee more
worry than anything else. The 5000
school children are expected on the
grounds not later than 10 o'clock The
electric road will give them a ride to
the home and return for cents on that
day. This reduction will not affect the
grown people.
II is understood that the railroads
the making great preparations for haul
Ing large crowds here from neighbour
ing cities. Mayor Hook will declare a
holiday for the afternoon, so as to en-
able everybody to witness the impos-
ing ceremonies