Evening star., 1898-02-23
NATION Al j. EMBLEM
Ceremony Of Presentation by Children
of American Revolution.
An ADDRESS BY hrs c. 4. slOcoMB
Comment by the National Presi-
dent Of the Society.
INCIDENT OF INTEREST

L
The beautiful exercises connected with
the return and presentation for the wear
1875 of the national emblem of the Children
of the American Revolution on Washing
toms birthday at Columbia Theater were
especially interesting. ..s
BY the escort of the Nelly Custis Society
of Washington, D. c., in the absence of
any Connecticut delegates, preceded by the
Henderson Drum Corps the national en-
blem was borne up proudly to the platform,
where Mrs. Daniel Lothrop, the national
president, received 1t on it's annual return
In the absence of serious illness of the
state director of Connecticut. Mrs c. H.
Slocomb. the president of the Bridgeport
Society of Connecticut, received the en-
blem from the young bearers as they
marched up to the" PLATFORM returning it
to the national president who handed it
to the first member of the National So
ciety, Margaret NJ. Lothrop of Concord
Mass, who placed it in the standard.
History of Banner.
Mrs Slocomb's address OH the return of
the banner contained the following:
1--WE Connecticut Children of the Amer
lean Revolution return to you a second
time our national banner, ready to pro-
gress another step onward and Upward in
Its inevitable destiny Its present sojourn
with us has not been inglorious. When.
last February. Mrs. Weed, regent of the
Ncrwalk Chapter SO graciously received
this emblem from the president in our be-
half, she told you that it represented our
strength in numbers and future interest in
our important organization She pointed
to the glowing red OF Its streamerS as rep
resenting our enthusiasm; to the white as
evidence of pure and lofty purpose, and to
the blue as representative of the truth and
the justice OF our principles. And we have
endoayored to prove that she counted not
amiss on the sterling qualities of her
states Children
'Sent forth from your convention, bear
ing It's gracious honorS to US. the banner
reached New London IN safety. and thence
was returned To its first home on the bat
tie ground CT Groton Heights, under the
shadow of the monument sacred to the un-
dying memories OF revolutionary heroes
there to await active service. 1t had not
long TO lie enfolded in its velvet cushions
The children of Connecticut determined
to welcome it back by grand emblem jul
blee,' and selected the states Arbor day
May Z, for the celebration; and in proof of
| their gratitude for another successful year
decided to give their state nine beautiful
| trees. and plant them on Groton Heights
| that day. these to inrlude a baby Charter
Oak. grandchid of the great historic tree,
which, alas. passed, like many other val
ued things, into grateful memory some
years ago. brr 81
But Ten Responded.
| sOur thirteen societies We're summoned,
! but Only ten responded. These, with stars
| and stripes, flies and drums, martial drill
| and patriotic songs. bore aloft your en-
| blem i'll their midst and threw to mighty
| freeze it's lovely streamers. Each society
| in turn came forward and bestowed its
purse (for the purchase of these trees),
| Teciting at the same time such noble pa
trioiic quotations that this banner would
| surely repeat each to you were 1t gifted
| with aught but mute. eloquence.
Some weeks elapsed before the emblem
| lad another outing for We supposed it
was to show it's bravery of red, white
and blue only on occasions of actual pa
| triotic memorial work completed for state
and county, but these long, sunny weeks
| We're not without patriotic results. Its
| handsome case, standing erect in the Mon
| registered during the summer mOnths) at
| tracted attention and inquiries. Then, nat
| urally, it's story followed, and thus it
taught its daily lesson.
1.-THE 21st of June the Thomas Avery So
ciety Of Poquonncc called for the national
emblem and summoned the neighboring
societies to witness the elimination of
| their patriotic industry. To this little band
of twenty-five workers 1t was confided as
they stood at the village church door:
thence our procession moved out to the
quaint old graveyard, a half mile distant,
nestled at the foot of a mighty granite
| ledge Oh! 81 quietly lay the early set
| lers' there beneath the long whispering
grasses and gently moving tree shadows
| that one hesitated to tread in and out
among the mOsS-grown IombstoneS to the
| only new and radiant one, bedecked with
| flowers, and the erection of which, to a
hero's memory, the banner had come to
| celebrate. Time fails to tell of these in
| teresting details. But they can be read in
each societys report.
THE Col VIM. Ledyard Society of Gro
ton called together all neighboring societies
fnr NIL, 80
3 and, of course the national emblem
presided over their rejoicing and festivities
and calmly listened to youthful George
Washington proclaim the Declaration of
| rounded by flags and music and all the
panopiy of American patriotism.
Memorial Guise.
THE next outing came once again in
solemn memorial guise The William La
| than. Jrs, of Stonington the historic
Little Powder Monkeys band of twenty
| one members had been up and doing and
reJolced to summon the emblem to be pres
| ent at the fulfllment of their proudest
ambition, the erection of a stone over
| Sergt. Daniel Stanton's neglected grave.
| In Norfh Ston1ngton, on August 26 After
| q short journey by rail and long drive
| through a country blessed with vistas of
land and sea, islands. sounds and bays,
| hills. dales, forests and lovely ponds max
| ing beauty on all Sides we mounted high
| er and higher into a fine rolling country
| many miles inland, there to find awaiting
| US on the slope of a gentle hill the group
| OF young patriots guarding the gateway
| to Gods Acre, reserved through many
| generations for the Stanton family. The
| society omcers and children led the way
| to the fine boulder they had placed, over
which lay draped the Star Spangied Ban
| ner and beside this reposed your emblem,
| over the ashes of Hero Stanton, while
they unveiled and dedicated their COM
! pleted work amid natures charming and
| reposeful aspect. The grasshoppers chirp-
ed welcome and the birds joined to praise
| as the sweet young voices gave forth My
Country, 'Tis of Thee Inspired by the
enthusiasm and devotion of this patriotic