, 1897-12-03
THE COLOR ESCORT.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE OF
ALL MILITARY O6SEhVAkSES.

Ceremony In Honor of the Stars nm
Stripes That Touches the PstrI"tic Chord
h Respect For the Flag Which ]
Shown by Men. Women mad Children.
There is nothing that more conduce
to make u good, true and loyal soldic
than to inculcate in him love and re
spect for the flag he has sworn to up
hold and deferd. To lring about thi
end, there are certain ceremonies i'll tn
army that are intended to impress tn
wearer Of the uniform with the dig
nifty Of the flag. One Of these ceremcnie
Is called the escort to the color, - an
1t is the finest ;Ld most impressive O
all military ohservauces. Every regi
ment carries two tiags-Cne national
the oth'r the regilnental, which carrie
the number and lame Of the regiment
These flags are kept ut the Residential
quarters Of the colonel Or at his Office
where they are z~Calously cared iGr. l
is when the regiment parades. and thes
flags are to lie brought to the troops
that the escort to the color is ~curriet
out.
When the regiment has formed lin
on the parade, the colonel details u com
pany TO bring the colors and escort then
to their place in the line. The colnpun,
marches i'll column Of platoons, heade'
by the band, which does not play a
the march down the front of the line j
made. The two color sergeants, old ant
faithful soldiers appointed to these de
sired places by reason of long service
and military bearing. march between
the two platoons. Upon arriving il
front Of the building where the flag
are kept line is formed, the band stand
ing on the right of the escort.
The first lieutenant, with draw
sword, followed by the two color ser
geants, who are followed in turn by
sergeant armed with a rifle, enters tn
building and receives the flags. Whel
the color bearers appear, followed b.
the lieutenant and the sergeant, the,
halt at the entrance and form line, fac
ing the escort. Arms are presented, ant
the field music (the trumpeters) sount
a thrilling call named ITO the colcr,'
during the sound Of which all stand mo
tionless, with arms at the present. Ate
the sounding of the color has ended
arms are brought to the order, and thel
two color sergeants taking places he
tween the two platoons, aud thus guard
ed, the march is taken up, the banG
playing q spirited air.
Around the shady main avenue Of tn,
post marches the escort, each soldier
erect and appearing as if he felt that thu
flags We're intrusted to him alone in
stead Of to the company Of which ht
forms 60 small a part. How zach mar
steps out to the strains of the march,
probably Sousa's inspiring "Stars anf
Stripes Forever" Down past the Off
GERS quarters, the porches Of which arr
filled with the wives, daughters ant
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 houst
these true ard loyal women cease theil
talk and stand quietly till the flag ha.
passed. when the interesting discussion
or the latest news is resumed. Past /;
group Of enlisted men not required t.
attend the parade marches the escort.
Each man stands attention, aud re
moves his cap. a group Of small boy,
at play is next passed. Every one, {
trUe soldier ) son, stands, cap in hand
till Old Glory has passed. have seel
this same small boy grow up, LAS
through the Point" and command OIL,
of the Elatoous in the escort after grad
uation and maybe in the same company
commanded by his father. This marcel
around the post has at last brought tn,
escort opposite the right Of the line OF
paraded troops, when the colonel com
mands attention, and down the line
passes the glitterine guard.
Gu reaching u point in the front Of
the center OF the paraded command the
escort forms line facing the regiment
the two color serSeants marching to the
front till IL PAGES in front Of the colone.
aud his staff. Arms are then presented
to the flags by command of the colonel,
AAa "hAAS ehS tuAAI"sSAs aSoAA SooAS
"to the color the flags are allowed t.
fly to the breeze, the lances are lowered
in acknowledgment of the present
and now the moment is one to I'LL the
soul of every lover of his country with
a thrill that is understandable. 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 10 portray.
After the sounding Of the color the
two sergeants march to their places in
the parade, nd the escorting company.
having faithfully carried out its sacred
duty, now wheels into column of pla
toons and, beaded by the band with in.
spring muIic, 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 tC
the place where they are preserved
Lieutenant 3. W. Atkinson, U. S. A..
in st. Nicholas