The Republican journal., 1899-11-09
Waldo County Veteran Association
A Gala Day in Brooks.

The Waldo County Veteran Association
met Nov. I'd with George G. Davis Post in
Brooks. The day dawned little unfavor-
aple Tor the occasion, as it was windy and
the travelling not the best, but at an early
hour the veterans began to arrive. Presi
dent J. 0. johnson called the forenoon
meeting to order, and Secretary A. Stinson
read the records of the last meeting, which
were approved. The chair appointed the
following committee on time and place of
next meeting: Comrades Cook, Nash and
Nlckerson. Rev. David Brackett and wife
and Rev. F. S. Dolliff and wife were voted
honorary members of the Association. The
committee reported time of next meeting
Dec. 7th; place, E. NJ. Billings Post, Mon
roe. Adjourned for dinner. The good peo-
pie OF Brooks have made record for their
good dinners in the past, but this one cap
ped them all. After the inner man had been
satisfied, good smoke and chat were enjoy
ed. Pres. johnson called the afternoon
meeting to order. Brooks Cornet Band fur
nished the best of music for the OCCASION
and male quartette sang twice, which was
very fine. The program was follows:
Music by the band; prayer by Rev. Mr.
Prescott; address of welcome by Rev. David
Brackett The address was very fine and
touched the hearts of the veterans. He
spoke as follows:
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE WALDO
VETERAN ASSOCIATION: 1t is my pleasant
task to bid you welcome to our midst Your
meetings here and elsewhere signify our
national safety.
There is no greater event to our nation
than when peace was again restored to our
| homes and country; when brother no longer
sought brothers life, but one flag, "Old
Glory toated over united people. You
veterans of the Waldo Veteran Association
with your comrades, by your valor and in
! tegrity, under God saved our Union intact
and complete. Many of your comrades laid
down their lives for the cause. You escaped
by Gods mercy, and you now meet at stated
times to perpatuate the memory of the past
and instil INTO the minds and hearts OF the
sons and daughters the spirit of devotion to
principle and country, without which no ma
tlon is safe.
The recollection of great day comes to
me-the return of the remnant of great
conquering army the reveille at Washing
ton; an ocean of flags; throngs of people ;
glistening arms and battle-scarred and shat
tered veterans with empty sleeves. Across
the front of the nations capital upon strip
debt we can never pay is the debt we owe
the Union soldier
The old battles have been fought and new
battles present themselves. You have not
been discharged from loyalty to God and
country. We need the veteran soldier yet.
The trials of peace are no less exacting than
those of war Liberty AND union are to be
preserved by the little red schoolhouse and
united church
Soldiers, we need you still to carry on the
great work of liberty. We need your in
fiuence; we need your prayers; we need
your voices We welcome you for what
you have done for what you can do; for
what we hope you will do to drive sin, with
its bonds OF slavery, from our midst.
President johnson responded as only a
good comrade could. Then followed music
by the band remarks by A j. Billings who
always mas a good word for tue boys; sing
ing by male quartette; exercise by little
children; remarks by A. E. Nlckerson and
John Gordon; reading by Jennie Jackson;
remarks by Pres. johnson and Ii, r. Daw-
son; exercises by little children, singing by
male quartette; remarks by Orrin j Di ckey
the son of veteran and who holds an hon =
orable position in that organization; re-
marks by James Pattee, A vote of thanks
was given the good people Of Brooks, the
band, and all who helped to entertain the as
sociation throughout the day The follow
ing resolutions were adopted by unani-
nous vote
Although having seven active g. A. r.
posts in Waldo County and never having
had a candidate for department commander
be it
Resolved, That in the thirty years of
which the Department of Maine has been in
existence, they have never had department
commander representing the navy but once,
and that we believe that it should now be
again represented;
Whereas, we the members of the Waldo
County Veterans Association, assembled at
Brooks, do hereby present the name of
John O. Johnson of Liberty, a naval veteran
with the rank of master in command and
now president of the Waldo County Veteran
Association, as candidate for Department
Commander of Maine at the next Depart
ment meeting.
The meeting closed.with singing America,
and the boys left for their homes feeling that
the day had been well spent. A. Stinson,
Sec'y.