Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-11-18
THE COLOR ESCORT.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE OF
ALL MILITARY OsSERvANcES.


There is nothing that more conduces
to make a good, true and loyal soldier
than to inculcate in him love and re-
spect 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
is called the escort to the color" and
it is the finest and most impressive OF
all military observances Every regi-
ment carries two fags-one 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 zealously 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 COM
pany to bring the colors and escort them
to their place in the line The company
marches in column of platoons, 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 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 Oh the right of the escort
The first lieutenant, with drawn
sword, followed by the two color SER
geants, who are followed in turn by
sergeant armed with rifle, 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
ing the escort. Arms are presented, and
the field music 1.-THE trumpeters) sound
a thrilling call named ITO the color,
during the sound of which all stand mo-
tionless, with arms at the present After
the sounding of the color has ended
arms are 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, the march is taken up the band
playing 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 in
stead 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" 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 con-
fined to the wearers Of the army blue,
for as 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 is resumed. Past
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 play Is next passed. Every one, a
true 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 in the escort after grad
uation and maybe III 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, and 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 sergeants marching to the
front till IL PAGES in front of the colonel
and his staff Arms are then presented
to the flags by command 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 acknowledgment of the present,
and now the moment is one to fill the
soul of every lover Of his country with
O thrill that is Undesirable. 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 sacred
duty, now wheels into column of pla-
ICONS and, headed by the band with in
spring 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 pa
rade the color guard escorts the flags to
the place where they are preserved
Lieutenant B. w Atkinson, U. S. A,
in St Nicholas
Too Much Salt.