Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-04
PRESENTED WITH A MEDAL.
Lieutenant Woon Honored by His
Comrades of the Blues.

The first full-dress battalion drill Of
the Richmond Light Infantry Blues was
held at their armory on Ninth and Cary
streets last night. 1t was quite red
letter day In the calendar of the bat
talon, and the spacious armory was fair
ly crowded with those who came to wit
ness the evolutions and take part in the
subsequent festivities. Many ladies were
present.
The Blues Band was stationed in the
drill-hall, and before the drill and during
the intermission they played popular Sc
iections.
great surprise had been planned by
the members Of Company a for the &C.
casion. and it was most successfully con-
summated. As a means of showing
their esteem for Lieutenant Woon. who
has just been placed upon the retired
list, at his own request, the members of
his company took this opportunity to
present to him in public q very hand
| some gold medal.
Major Richardson, president OF the
Blues Association, had been asked to
make the presentation, but was prevent
ed by indisposition: and Colonel j. Bell
Bigger vice-president Of the association,
took his place.
The battalion was lined up after drill,
and Lieutenant Woon was called out
A letter was read from Major Richard
son, expressing his deep regret at his in
ability 10 be present, and his high es-
TEEN OF Lieutenant Woon's manly and
sodierly qualities.
Colonel Bigger then spoke as follows:
Lieutenant Woon,-In the absence Of
our beloved comrade, Major Richardson
who is Sick l have been requested as an
officer of the Blues Association, to pre-
sent TO you n gold medal from Company
a, OF our battalion, as a slight token of
the high esteem in which you are held
by them. This medal is symbolic Of the
pure metal of which you are made: its
shining effulgence a reflex Of the bright
ness OF your mind, and it's lasting ca
pacity Is typical Of the enduring regard
you have for the boys with whom you
have been so long and pleasantly asso-
ciated
This gold medal will shine In har-
monious contrast with the silver ap-
pendages of your uniforms and no I'M
generous rivalry will be awakened be-
tween the yellow and the white metal.
| each adjoining where good taste may Sc
| lect its use.
THE golden morn I'm its grandeur
sheds its mellow beams over the palaces
of the affluent and the cabins Of the
poor. and the dazzling brightness Of the
suns silvery rays brings into full ma
turty the productions OF the soil and
! places upon the brow the dew-like drop
| which is emblematic Of the injunction,
! to earn your bread by the sweat of
| your brow but, above all. Is the fire
| which burns in those sublunar orbs OF
| lovely woman's eye-lending it's flashes
TO brighten up our marches to great
moral and intellectual accomplishments"
Lieutenant Woon was loudly cheered.
He was visibly moved and expressed
his gratitude very briefly.
At a meeting of Company A. held SUBJ
sequently i'm their room, Lieutenant
Woon said that the presentation was so
wholly unexpected, and he had been
taken so much by surprise, that ne had
| been az loss for words to express his
| gratitude. He had always felt. he said,
| that each member of the Blues was his
| personal friend and some of the closest
| friendships OF his life had been formed
| during the ten years he had been con-
nected with tho battalion. He appre-
| ciated the gift most highly, and should
| always look back upon the event OF the
evening as one of the pleasantest and
most gratifying experiences Of his life.
1 The medal is Of gold. The design in
! cludes an eagle a laurel wreath, and the
cross-guns. II is mounted on bar.
which bears Lieutenant Woon's full
name. On the reverse side IS the fol-
lowing inscription: ITO Lieutenant
Frank Maxwell WoOn. With the Esteem
and Affection OF His Comrades; Com
! pany A., r. L. |. b"
An election Of officers will be held at
the armory next Tuesday.