The record-union., 1897-10-17
ESCORT TO THE. COLOR.
one OF the Most Impressive OF All
Military Observances.

| INC nosC impressive OK All
| Military Observances.
| lieutenant b. w. Atkinson, L. S. A..
writes an article on THE Escort to the
Color Tor the ''St Nicholas" Lieuten-
ant Atkinson says:
iheTe Is nothing that more conduces
10 make good, true and loyal soldier
| than TO 1nculcate in him love and re-
spect Tor the flag he has sworn to up-
hold and defend. To bring about this
| eno, there are certain ceremonies N
the army that are intended to impress
| the Wearers Of the uniform with the
dignity of the flag. One of these GER
| emonies is called the Escort to the
| Color" and it is the finest and most
| impressive of all military observances.
Every regiment carries two hags;e one
the national, the other the regimental.
which carries the number and name. of
the regiment. These flags are kept at
| the residential quarters of the Colonel.
or at his office, where they are jealous
ly cared for 1t is when the regiment
parades, and these flags are to be
| brought to the troops, that the escort
to the color is carried out
When the regiment has formed line
/ on the parade, the Colonel details a
company to bring the colors and escort
them to their place in the line The
! company marches in column on pla-
toons, headed by the band, which does
not play as the march down the front
of the line is made. The two Color
| Sergeants, old and faithful soldiers ap-
pointed to these desired places by rea3
son of long service and military bearE
ing, march between the two platooIls.
Upon arriving in front of the building
where the flags are kept, line is formed,
the band standing on the right of the
escort.
The First Lieutenant, with drawn
sword, followed by the two ColorSer-
| geants, who are followed in turn by a
| Sergeant armed with rifle, enter the
building and receive the flags. When
the color-bearers appear, followed by
the Lieutenant and the Sergeant, they
halt at the entrance and form line, fac
ing the escort. Arms are presented,
| and the field music dhe trumpeters)
sound thrilling call named "to the col
Or during the sound of which all stand
| motionless with arms al present. After
the sounding of the color has ended
arms are brought to the order, and the
column of platoons is reformed, the two
| or-Sergeants taking places between
the two platoons; and, thus guarded
the march is taken up, the band play
ing a spirited air.
Around the shady main avenue of the
post marches the escort, each soldier
erect and appearing as if he felt that
the flags were intrusted to him alone
instead of to the company of which he
forms SO small part. How each man
steps out to the strains of the march,
probably Sousa's inspiring STARS and
Stripes Forever''i Down past the Off
GERS quarters, the porches of which are
filled with the wives, daughters and
sweethearts of the officers parading,
goes the escort. The respect for the
flag is not confined to the Wearers OF
the army blue; for as the escort passes
each house, these true and loyal Wonl-
en- cease their talk, and stand quietly
till the flag has passed, when the inter-
esting discussion or the latest news is
resumed. Past group of enlisted men
not required to attend the parade
marches the escort. Each man stands
attention. and removes his cap. A
group of small boys at play is next
passed. Every one, a true soldiers son,
stands, cap in hand, till Old Glory has
passed. 1 have seen this same small
boy grow up,'pass through the Point
and command one of the platoons in
the escort after graduation, and maybe
in the same company commanded by
his father. This march around the post
has at last brought the escort opposite
the right of the line of paraded troops,
when the Colonel commands attention
and down the line passes the glittering
guard.
On reaching a point in the front of
the center of the parade command, the
escort forms line facing the regiment
the two Color-Sergeants marching to
the front till twelve PAGES in front of
the Colonel and his staff Arms are
then presented to the flags by COM
mand of the Colonel, and while the
trumpeters again sound ito the color"
the flags are allowed to fly to the
breeze, the lances are lowered in ac-
acknowledgement Of the present" and
now the moment is one to fill the soul
OF every lover of his country with a
thrill that is indescribable. The silk
and tasseled flags, caught by the rays
OF the sun, shine and glisten in front of
the solid ranks of blue-and- gold uni
forms massed across the deep green
sward of the parade ground-a picture
difficult for any pen to portray.
After the sounding of the color, the
two Sergeants march to their places in
the parade; and the escorting company.
having faithfully carried out its sa-
cred duty, now wheels into column of
platoons, and headed by the band with
inspiring music, proceeds on down the
line and around in the rear of the regi-
ment, whence, without music, it goes
to its proper place in the line and the
formal dress parade is begun. After
parade the color guard escorts the flags
to the place where they are preserved.
A Distinction and a Difference.
Mrs. Mullarkey-Excuse the remark,
Mrs. Rooney, but hasn't your tay a
maley taste?
Mrs. Rooney-I'd have you to know.
Mrs. Mullarkey, that whin we make
stirabout we make stirabout, an whin
we make tay we make tay, but we niver
make them in the same pot.-Truth.