The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-06-03
Flag Raising at Sandy Hook.
INSPIRING ADDRESS BY FATHER MICHAEL
BARRY OF NORwALK.

After the protracted season of wet
weather the sunshine of Memorial day
vas very gratefully received, and the
day proved most happy and favorable
one for the flag raising over st MaFy's
school at Sandy Hook. There was q
good large audience present to attest
their interest in the occasion and Father
Michael Barry of South NOrWalk, the
orator of the day, gave an excellent ad-
dress, paying glowing tributes to the
flag. The members of the Knights of
Columbus met at st Roses church at IL
o'clock and headed by the Drum Corps
and a company of school children acted
IS an escort for the speaker of the day,
marching to Sandy Hook. Flags were
literally displayed from the houses en-
route and at Sandy Hook Custer Post G.
A. X. met them and stood with uncover
ed heads as the procession passed be
tween their lines. At the sChOOlhOuse a
platform had been erected for the speak
er and the children Of st Msry's school
opened the exercises of the day with
America" the national hymn. Father
smith stepped to the platform and in
Croduced the speaker in happily chosen
words. He thanked the people for their
presence to do honor to the flag to be
.aised on the school. He thanked the
members OF st Mary's Catholic Club for
the gift of the beautiful flag and said it
gave him great plea ure to introduce
Father Barry, who was personal friend
Of his.
Father Barry stepped forward and
closely he Id the attention of his hearers
throughout his excellent address. He
said IN part as follows:
On this day throughout the length and
~ this baIovpA land Of Oura men
are gathered together to do honor TO the
memory of those patriots who died
In order that this country might
live. They come together to place
the wreaths of remembrance, tC
strew the garlands Of gratitude
on the graves of those honorec
dead, who in the hour of their countrY'f
need, IN the time of their country's peril
went forth at their countTy's call anC
gladly sacrificed their lives on the alta
| II their patriotism, 50 that this Union o.
States might be and remain one and I'm
div ded.
In thes annual memorial celebration
the children of the country are happil.
allowed lifting place. In order, tina
the daring deeds of our hOnOred ant
patriot dead shall not be forgotten in tn
passage of the years in order that tn
memory of them shall endure as long a
this mighty republic Itself. shall endure,
Ia most fitting that the youth Of TIL
land, growing up and Ell yiDg its bless
ings, It's Institutions, its freedom ant
liberty, should have planted deeply i
their heart the seeds of patriotism a
nure, az strong, as noble as that whic
held such firm root in the great patriot
heart OF the manhood OF the generatlo
now passing away.
In these Later years, however, II
spirit and purpose Of these celebration
have undergone gradual and welcome
change. Inc spirit of the fratrlcloS
struggle has been softened down or raths
altogether forgotten. No longer DO
come together to thunder forth hatrt
against our brother of the South. \
longer do we remember that he was on,
cur country's foe, rather do we clasp hi
hand-in-hand and stand with nj
shoulder to shoulder, rather do we sou!
\ the praises of his bravery in the san
breath az we sound cur oWn-rather
we unfurl the same flag and standing
gether beneath it's stars and stripes, 81
the same songs of freedom and libert
But more than ever in this present ye
is this so. In this year when the bug
\ sends out les warlike notes calling 7
nation to arms, it is echoed and re-echo
= IN every NOOK anu Corner VI buIs D1O
LAND and its answer Ia heard in {
sounds of the tramping thousands ii
come froua Nortbl4pd, from Southlar
from Eastland from Westland, all marc
ing on in the same cause OF freedom,
lnstice, of humanity. Tbis 10 the spi
IN which men come together on tn
Memorial days and this the purpose
these gatherings spirit that wo'
make manifest uni-ed love for unit
.unirg, purpose that would inf .
- the fires OF patriotism in the heart
every true American whether be IL
where the woodman's axe resounds
the pine forests Of Maine, or where
palmetto caste its grateful shades I'M
: Southern skies, or where the prairies !
" fold their broad expanse, or where