Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-11-30
THE COLOR ESCORT.
yNe OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE or
ALL MILITARY oBSERvANceS.

u ILL OVAAO4S AI1OOASAs
Dine OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE or
ALL MILITARY oBsERvANcEs.
Ceremony In Hsser os the STAR -
stripes Thai Tsschss shs Patriotic lord.
The Respect For the Flag which II
shown By Men. wemen s.d Children.
There il nothing that more conduces
TO make good, true and loyal soldier
than to inculcate in him love and re-
spcct, for the flag he has sworn to up
hold and defend. To bring about this
end. there are certain ceremonies in the
army that are intended to impress the
wearers Of the uniform with the dig
nifty Of the flag. One of these ceremonies
Ii called tho escort 10 the color" and
Il ID the finest and most impressive OF
all military observances Every regi-
ment carries two fiags-onc national,
the other the rcgimental, which carries
the number and name Of the regiment
These flags are kept ut the residential
quarters IF the colonel or at his Office,
where they are zealously cared for. 1t
is when the regiment parades. and these
flags are to be brought to the troops,
that tho escort to the color is carried
out.
When the regiment has formed line
ON the parade. the colonel details o GEN.
pany to bring the colors and escort them
to their place in the line. The company
marches in column Of platoons, headed
by the bend, which does not play as
the march down the front Of the line is
made. The two color sergeants, old and
faithful soldiers appointed TO these de-
sired places by reason Of long service
and military bearing. march between
the two platoons Upon arriving in
front of the building where the flags
are kept line is formed, the band stand
ing ON the right Of the escort
The first lieutenant, with drawn
sword, followed by the two color ser
geants, who are followed In turn by q
sergeant armed with rife, enters the
building and receives the flags When
the color bearers appear. followed by
the lieutenant and the sergeant, they
halt at the entrance and form line. fac
INK the escort Arms are presented, and
the field music tthe trumpeters) sound
n thrilling call named ITO tho color, ="
during the sound Of which all stand mo-
tionlcss. with arms at the present After
the sounding Of the color has ended
arms arc brought to the order. and then
column Of platoons is reformed. the
two color sergeants taking places be-
tween the two platoons, and thus guard.
ed. tile march il taken up, the band
playing spirited air.
Around the shady main avenue OF the
post marches the escort, each soldier
erect ind appearing rs II he felt that the
hags were intrusted to him alone in.
stead Of TO the company Of which he
forms 50 small part How each man
steps ont 10 the strains Of tho march,
probably Soua's inspiring STARS and
Stripes Forever Down past the OIL
GERS quarters, the porches Of which are
filed with the wives, daughters and
sweethcarts Of the officers parading.
goes the escort.
The rcspec, for tho flag is not con.
fined to the wearers Of the army blue.
for rs the escort passes each house
these true and loyal women cease their
talk and stand quietly till the flag has
passed. when the interesting discussion
or the latest news IL resumed. Past a
group Of enlisted men not required to
attend the parade marches the escort
Each man stands attention, and re-
moves his cap. A group Of small boys
at pley is next passed. Every one, a
tree soldiers son. stands, cap in hand,
till Old Glory has passed. have seen
this same small boy grow up. pass
through the Point" and command one
Of the platoons III the escort after grad
ration aud 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 com
mands attention. aud down the line
passes the glittering guard.
On reaching a point In the front OF
the center Of the paraded command the
escort forms line facing the regiment,
the two color scrgeants marching to the
front till ~ PAGES In front Of the colonel
and his staff Arms are then presented
TO the flags by command Of the colonel,
and while the trumpe,ers again sound
ITO the color" the flags are allowed 10
Cy TO the breeze, the lances are lowered
in acknowledgment Of the present,
and now the moment is one 70 fill the
soul Of every lover Of his country with
thrill that is Undesirable. The silk
and tasseled flags. caught by the rays
Of the SUI. shine ard glisten III front OF
the solid ranks Of blue and gold uni.
forms massed across the deep green
swurd of the parade ground-a picture
difficult for any pen to portray.
After the sounding OF the color the
two sergcants march TO their places in
the parade, and the escorting company,
having faithfully carried out It's sacred
duty. now wheels into column Of pla'
,oors and. headed by the land with IN.
spring music, proceeds on down the
line and around in the rear Of the regi-
uI,nt, whence. without music, IL goes
to its proper place in the line, and the
formal dress parade is begun. After pa.
rade the color guard escorts the flags to
tie place here they are preserved
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