The sea coast echo., 1898-02-12
ESCORT TO THE COLOR"
ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE OF
ALL MILITARY oBSERvANcES.


ing Parade Tributes of Respect Paid
by Every One as the Proud Color Bear
ers March Along with "oId Glory"
Lieutenant B. W. Atkinson, U. s. A.,
writes an article on 'The Escort to
the Color" for st. Nicholas. Lieuten-
ant Atkinson says
There is nothing that more conduces
to make 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 i'm
press the wearerssof the uniform with
the dignity 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 regiment carries two flags: 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 zeal
ously cared for. 1t is when the regi-
ment 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 es-
cort 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 SOL
diers appointed to these desired places
by reason of long service and military
bearing, march between the two pla-
toons. 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 color-ser-
geants, who are followed in turn by
sergeant armed with q rife, enter
the building and receive the flags.
When the color bearers appear, fol-
lowed by the lieutenant and the SER
geant, they halt at the entrance and
form line, facing the escort. Arms
are presented, and the field music (the
trumpeters) sound thrilling call
named, "To the Color" during the
sound of which all stand motionless
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-sergeahts taking places be-
tween the two platoons; and, thus
guarded, the march is taken up, the
band playing spirited mir.
Around the shady main avenue of
the post marches the escort, each sol
dier erect and appearing as if he felt
that the flags were entrusted 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!" Down
past the officers quarters, the porches
of which are filled with the wives,
daughters and sweethearts of the Off
GERS 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 women cease their talk
and stand quietly till the flag has
passed, when the interesting discus
sion or the latest news is resumed.
Past group of enlisted men not re-
quired to attend the parade marches
the escort. Each man stands "atten-
tion" and removes his cap. A group
OF small boys at play is next passed.
Every one, 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 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 glitter
ing guard.
On reaching point in the front of
the centre of the paraded command
the escort forms line facing the regi-
ment, the two color-sergeants march
ing to the front till twelve 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 soui '"To 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
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 uniforms 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 compa-
ny, having faithfully carried out its
sacred 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
regiment, 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.
Remarkable Pigeon Flight.
Much interest has hann nxcitnd in