The Republican journal., 1900-06-14
THE WALDO COUNTY VETERANS
Meet with Thomas H. Marshall Post Bel.
fast. Tributes to the Late DIR. A. j. Bil.
lings of Freedom.

Meet with Thomas H. Marshall Post. Bel
fast. Tributes to the Late DIR. A. j. Ril
hngs of Freedom.
) The meeting of the Waldo County Veter.
ans Association, which was several times
, postponed on account of bad weather, was
held in Memorial Hall, Belfast, Thursday
June 18th. The attendance was large con
sidering that it is a busy time for the farm
ers, and that many were obliged to remain
away on that account The forenoon ses
sion was opened at IL o'clock, with Past
President L. D. Jones of Brooks in the
chair. J. W. Nash of Belfast, Alfred Stin-
son of North Searsport and II. r. Dawson
of Monroe were appointed a committee on
time and place of next meeting They sub
sequently reported, recommending that the
Association meet at Sears Island Bar i'm
Searsport, Thursday, August 9th, and the
report was adopted. This date is in cold
Home Week, when many former residents
will be i'll Maine from other States, and The
Journal suggests that it be made Waldo
Veterans Day. The dinner will include a
clambake.
A vote was passed requesting the ad-
jutants of the various Grand Army Posts
in the county to assist the Secretary in pre-
pairing roll of honor for the association.
1t is desired to make full roll of honor of
all soldiers and sailors of the civil war, res
idents of Waldo County, who have died
since the organization of the Association,
Oct. 13, 1892. Any person knowing of the
d sath of any veteran not member of the
| Grand Army is requested to report the
same. The secretary's address is Alfred
Stinson, North Searsport After brief re-
marks by L. ID. Jones, A. Stinson, H. R.
Dawson. j. W. Nash and Chas. O. Fernald
the Association adjourned for dinner
The dinner was ample and good, and was
a credit to the ladies of Thomas H. Mar
shall Relief Corps, by whom it was prepar-
ed The three long tables in the hall were
| twice filled, and all present did ample ius
tice to the fare. At the first table, the seat
usually occupied by the late DIR. A. J. Bill
| lingS of Freedom was left vacant in respect
/ to his memory.
The afternoon session was called to order
| by the President, John @. johnson of Lib
erty. Prayer was offered by the chaplain,
L. ID. Jones. The Secretary, after reading
the records of the last regular meeting also
| read The Journals report of the meeting
at which the Association was organized, on
the shore of Swan Lake, Oct IS, 1892.
| NJ. c. Dilworth, in behalf of Thomas II.
Marshall Post, gave brief and hearty
address of welcome to the visitors, which
was responded to by the President and II.
r. Dawson. President johnson referred to
| the changes brought about by time, citing
, , as one instance this days meeting, in which
the welcome in behalf of the Belfast COM
rades is given by one who went into the
service from another section, While the re-
sponse for the visitors is by one who enlist
ed in Belfast in her first company the 18th
Maine, Co. X. Of the 81 who went to the
front in that company but are now living
in this vicinity. He feels thrill OF pleas
ure and thankfulness toward the people of
Belfast whenever he thinks of those days.
Mr.. Dawson said he believed that all
meetings of veterans are places where the
civil war should be talked about. The meet
ings of the Waldo Veterans Association have
brought the soldiers and their families into
closer relations with each other. These
meetings have been held in all parts of the
county and have brought the people to
know each other as no other organization
could. Col Welsslnger represents class
of truly loyal men, who acknowledge that
they We're in the wrong and are now true
to the flag. But there are still some in the
South who do not accept the situation An
element of the Confederate Veterans ASso-
citation lately refused to accept fraternal
greetings from Gen. Sickles, and detach-
ment of the Sons of Confederate Veterans re-
fused to march under the Stars and Stripes.
Mr.. Dawson said he was born under the
cross of st. George, but was brought to
America by his parents when child Both
he and his father fought for their adopted
country, and he loves and honors its flag as
much as though he were borh under its pro-
lection. He closed with the loyal statement
81 believe America is the best country,
Maine the best State, and Monroe the best
! town on the face of the earth
Alfred Stinson Their spoke II memory of
the late eoinrade, DR.. Adoniram j. Billings
dt Freedom, as follows;
Mr.. President, Comrades, Ladies and Gem
tlemen 1t is with a feeling OF sadness
that | rise this afternoon to announce the
death of CoMrade A. j. Billings of Free
dom. Since our last meeting at North
Searsport our dear cOmrade has been called
to that land from which no weary traveller
has yet returned Nothing we may say on
this occasion will add or detract jot or
little from the record of our comrade as a
man or as a soldier; but on this occasion it
does seem fitting that we say a few words to
the memory of our departed comrade Il
was my lot to form an early acquaintance
with Comrade Billings, at time that tried
mems souls. During the winter of 1862,
while our army was camped upon the banks
of the Rappahannock river, after the disas
trous defeat at Fredericksburg, and while
our men were dying by hundreds and thous
ands from disease, hardship and exposure
it was then | first formed an acquaintance
with our departed conrade. Yes, Mr.. Pres
ident, it was While laying upon cot of
boughs in the regimental hospital, with no
covering but a canvas tent and a blanket-lt
was then, comrades. first learned the worth
of our dear departed comrade. Since that
time have been more Intimately acquainted
with him. l have known him in a small
business way and always found him honest,
reliable and ready to lend a helping hand to
a worthy comrade in need. Socially it was
nv lot to know him best | have met him at