The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-01-01
THE ESCORT TO THE COLOR,
One OF the Most Impressive OF Al
Military ObserFances.

ONE OF the most 1mpreSetTe OF Al
Military Observance.
There is nothing that more conduce.
to make a good, true and loyal soldier
than to inculcate in him love and respect
for the flag he has sworn to uphold and
defend. To bring about this end, there
are certain ceremonies in the army thai
are intended 10 impress the weaTers Of
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 mill.
tary observances. Every regiment car
ried two fags-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 zealously cared for
1t is 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 com
pany 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 from,
OF the line Is made. The two color
sergeants, old and faithful soldiers ap'
pointed to these desired places by rea
son of long service and military bear
ing, march between the two platoons
Upon arriving in front of the building
where the flags are kept, line is formed
the band standing on the right of tht
escort.
The first lieutenant, with drawn
sword, followed by the two color-ser.
geants, who are followed In turn by
u sergeant armed with rifle, 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 a 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 pla-
toons is reformed, the two color-ser-
geants taking places between the two
platoons; and, thus guarded, the march
Is taken up. the band Playing q spirited
air.
Around the shady main avenue of the
post marches the escort. each soldier
erect and appearing as if he 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 Foreverl" Down past the Of
fcers' quarters, the porches of which
are filled with che wives, daughters and
sweethearts of the officers 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
discussion of the latest news Is resumed
Past a group of enlisted men not re-
quired to attend the parade marches
the escort. Each man stands ''atten-
tlon," and removes his cap. A group of
small boys at play is next passed. Every
one, a true soldiers son, stands, cap
in hand, till Old Glory has passed.
have seen this small boy grow up, pass
through the ''Point," and command one
of the platoons in the escort after grad
uation, and may be 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 cOlone!
commands attention, and down the line
passes the glittering guard.
On reaching n 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 L. PAGES in front of the colonel
and his staff. Arms are then presented
to the flags by command of the colonel,
and while the tTumpeters again sound
"to the color the flags are allowed TO
fly to the breeze, the lances are lowered
in acknowledgment of the present"
aud now the moment is one 10 fill the
soul of every lover of his country with
a thrill that is lpdescribable. 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 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 company,
having faithfully carried out its sa-
cred duty, now wheels into column OF
platoons and, headed by the band with
Inspiring music, proceeds on down the
line 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.-Lieut.
B. W. Atkinson, in st. Nieholas 1890
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