The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-01-12
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
The Color Escort.

There is nothing that more conducet
TO make good, true ard loyal soldier
than to inculcate in him love aud le-
spect for the flag he has sworn to up.
hold and defend. To bring about this
end, there are Gel tain ceremonies in
the army that are intended TO impress
the wearers of the uniform with the
dignity of the flag. One of these cere.
monies is called the "escort to the
color" and it is the finest and most i'm.
pressive of all military observsnces.
Every regiment carries two dags-oue
national, the other The regimental,
which carries the number and name OF
the regiment. These flags are kept at
the reside n'ial quarters of the colonel
or at his office, where they are zet lous-
ly cared for. 1t 10 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 a
company to bring the colors and escort
them to their place in the line. The
company marches in column OF pla-
toons, headed by the band, which does
not play as the march down the front Of
the line is made. The two color SER
geants, old and faithful soldiers APP
pointed 10 these desired places by rea.
son of long service and military bear
il q, march between the two platoons.
Upon arriving in front of the building
where the flags are kept line is formed,
the band stands on the right of the
escort.
The first lieutenant, with drawn
swo d, followed by the two color SER
gt ants, 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 Ii, utenant and the sergeant, they
halt at the entrance and form line, fac
ing the eecort. Arms are presented,
and the field music Che trumpeters)
sound thrilling call named "To the
COLOR" during the sound OF which all
stand molionless, with arms at the pre-.
cent. After the sounding of the color
has ended arms are brought to the or.
der, and then column of toons is re.
formed, the two color sergeants taking
places between the two platoons, and
thus guarded, the march is taken up,
the oand playing spirited air.
Around the shady main avenue Of
the post marches the escort, each eel
der erect and appearing as il be felt
that the flags were intrusted 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 Fl led with the wives,
daughters and sweethearts of the { fl
GERS parading, goes the escort.
The respect tor the flag is not con-
fined to the wearers of the army blue,
for as the escort passes each house
these true and loyal wOme cease their
talk and stand quietly TIL the flag has
passed, when the interesting discussion
or the latest news is resumed. Past
group of enlisted men not require 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, de-, cap in hand,
till Old Glory has passed. l 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 parsded troops, when the
colonel commands attention, and down
the line passes the glitteriDg guard.
On reaching 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 twelve PAGES in front of the
C lionel and his staff. Arms are then
presented to the flags by command of
the colonel, and while the trumpeters
sound " to the color the flags are al
lowed 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 coun-
try with thrill that is indescribable.
The silk and tassled hags, caught by
the rays of the sun, shine and glisten in
front Of the solid ranks of blue and
% Id 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 serg' ants march to their places in
the parade, and the escorting company,
having faithfully carried cut its sacred
duty, now wheels into column of pa-
toons 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 lis proper Place in the line, and the
formal dress narade ia hepun After
parade the color guard escorts the iiags
TO the place where they are preserved
Lieutenant b. w. Atkinson, U. S. A.,
in ST. Nicholas.