The National tribune., 1899-01-05
THE GRAND ARMY.
What Veterans Are Doing for the Good of
the Order.

the Order.
Porto Rico this year enjoyed the novelty
of having several hundred American flags
| floating over the schoolhOuseS of the
island on Christmas Day. For this in
novation the Porto Ricans were indebted
to Lafayette Post, GAR, Of New York
Col. Allan c. Blackwell, Assistant Ad-
tjutant General of the Department of New
| York, has returned from Porto Il leo on the
steamship Philadelphia He spent sew
eral weeks there, visiting the principal
cities and towns Of the island and pre-
Senting large American emb1emS to the
| schools in each place. Three hundred
| flags were distributed by Col. Blackwell,
and these were so gladly received that 800
| more will be sent to San Juan for diStribu-
| ton within a few days.
r At every place where there was Il flag
| presentation, all Of the school children,
with their teachers and hundreds of resi-
dents, gathered in the plaza, listened
with marked attention To the speeches
and cheered enthusiastically when the
| flag was turned over to the children and
unfurled.
! 1t was in San Juan that Col. Blackwell
began the distribution Of the Stars and
| Stripes. Several thousand persons gath
cred in the plaza there Dec a. Col Bake
well, through an Interpreter, made an
address, explaining the object OF his visit :,
telling the residents that in New York
and many other parts ofSthe United States
| it was the custom to Bv the Stars and
| Stripes over all the scl.oOlhOuses and sug-
tgeSting that the custom be adopted by
/ Porto Ricans. He. dweit upon the sig
nifcance OF the American flag, and urged
/ ms hearers to respect 1T at all times
! There was much enthuS iasm, which was
augmented when the National colors were
| freed to the breeze.
| Col. Bakewcl in his mission repre-
FGpnfPI Gov RI1pk = well .C | al q
/ Post.
| Resolutions were unan inlously adopted
at a largely attended meeting of Post OF
/ Erie, Pa, indOrsing Pres ident McKin ley S
Expressions relative to the care OF the
graves Of the Confederate dead by the
Nation. Volrey Il. ST. John is Post Ad-
| Iutant
| During a number OF past sessions Of the
| New Hampshire Legislature it has teen
| the custom OF veterans fortunate enough
90 lie members Of the State LEGISLATURE to
organize an association, both fer a letter
cOmradeship and with Il view OF consider
ing together any questions arising in
which, Singly or as a body, they may be
interested. Presuming that such may be
the action during the coming session
Commander y. s. Twitchel II has appointed
the following comrades members OF their
respective bodies, as a committee from
the Grand Army To represent our beloved
Order and the cause OF the veteran sol
dier in any legislation arising in their
interest: On the part Of the Senate-fIon.
ID. Il. Proctor, Of Post II. On the part OF
the House-Gen. Frank Battles. of Post
2; Col. Thomas Cogswell, Of Post 81: and
Marcus NJ. Coils, OF Post and as Con-
ference Committee to act with the said
Legislative Committee, to aid in any OF
the good work, the following members of
the Order are added Col. John c. Line
han, OF Post 81; Col. James Minot, of Post
2; Col. III. l.. Worcester, of Post 22
At recent meeting of Worden Post, ~,
Pembina, n. D., resolutions were passed
expressing the belief of the comrades that
Dec. IA, 1899, the centennial of the death
Of George Washington, should be observed
with memorial services by the Posts
throughout the land. These resolutions
will be laid before the Department En-
campment. Moses Heller is Commander
and j. q. Sanderman Adiutant