Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-15
old GLORY THEME OF TIE ADDRESSES
Exercises Last Evening Under
Auspices of the W. R. c.
IN HONOR OF FLAG DAY

celebration in the national capital. 1t was
at Fort Stevens President Lincoln stood dur
ing the attack that was being made upon
the capital by the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia under Gen. Jubal A. Early. The cere-
monies were inaugurate with the raising
of an American flag by Mrs. Rosa Wright
Smith. a daughter of the late Gen. Horatio
G. Wright, who commanded the troops of
the 9th Army Corps in their defense of
Washington.
Participating in the exercises were the
children of the Brightwood school, the Sol
diers' Home Band. secured through the
courtesy of Gen. George D. Ruggles;
number of veterans of the civil conflict,
the president of the board of District Com
missoners. Mr.. Fl. b. F. Mcfarland, and
many other prominent citizens of the Dis
trict. The Secretary of State, Mr.. John
Hay. was present during a greater portion
of the celebration The school children
marched from their building to the fort,
each carrying a small flag.
Regrets by President Mckinley.
Mr.. W. V. Cox presided. He read a let
ter of regret from President Mckinley and
said. in a brief opening address, he felt
honored in having been chosen to preside
over a meeting in which the children of
the public schools and the soldiers of the
civil war united in paying tribute to the
flag ard the defenders of Washington. Mr..
Cox spoke of the efforts being made to
perpetualy preserve Fort Stevens, and also
spoke of the growth and high standard OF
the Brightwood school, closing by introduce
ing the principal Of that institution. Mr..
w. Z. Nalley, who spoke of the early his
tory of the American flag. Mr. Nalley told
of the old pine-tree and rattlesnake ban
ners as evidencng a gradual growth away
from England. Those ensigns. however,
bore resemblance to the British flag. 1t
was when the co onists were ready for COM
plete independence and n new nation was
established that the flag was originated
in its present form. He closed by paying a
tribute to the American banner and urging
reverence for it upon the part of citizens.
DIR. c. V. Pettcys. president of the Sixth
ARMY Corps Survivors Association. also
spoke. He gave some interesting bits of
history connected with the defense of the
capital and the presence of President Lin
ccln at Fort Stevens. General Early had
by few raw recruits. With his men ne
the works of Fort Stevens full
of confidence. This feeling. however,
turned to one of dismay when the veterans
of the 9th Corps rose before the advancing
hosts The enemy retired, after an engage
ment in which the loss was not heavy on
either side.
During the fight President Lincoln took
a prominent position on the works and
was exposed to the enemy's fire, notwith-
Gen Wnght's plea that he should
retire to a place OF safety. 1t was only
when the general threatened the President
with removal by force that he consented 10
avail himself Of the protection of the breast
works He was utterly without regard for
his personal safety.
Commissioner Macfarlnnd's Tribute.
Commissioner mcfarland paid beautiful
tribute 10 the flag. That flag" said he,
lis dear to US not for Its beauty, but for
its meaning 1t reminds US of Abraham
Lincoln. the foremost American, and of
all the other men and women, great and
small, who, ike him, gave their lives for
their country, and Il stimulates in us the
desire to live such lives as they lived. l
thought once moro as l drove by the
house on 10th street this morning, where
President Lincoln died, and saw the flag
from the window of the room, that a man
could died for his country without laying
down his life on a battlefield. And 50 he
can live for his country in peace as well
as in war
Mr.. Macfarland referred to the flag he
wore on his coat lapel, saying 1t had been
presented to him by the Sons Of the Amer
lean Revolution, the society having also
sent hundreds of them to the children of
the islands coming into the possession OF
the United States during the war with
Spain, hoping that they may learn Its his
tory and the principles 1t represents. He
urged the American boys and girls not to
be behind the newly acquired peoples.
Battles Under the Flag.
Closing, he said:
ut is hard. this peaceful afternoon, to
realize that this was a fort and a battle
ground in great war. 1t is almost as
hard to realize that on the other side of
the world American boys are perhaps
fighting today under the American flag or
wrapping their dead in Its folds. 1t
does not seem probable that any of us will
ever be called to fight in such battles. But
We In mature life, and you who are soon
to take our places, must continually fight
the battles of peace for good government
and civic Righteousness. We must ever be
ready to meet all the Obligations OF our
citizenship as faithful and true soldiers, and
at any cost"
follows: Song. Flag of Freedom" school
children: recitation, Our Flag Corabel
Bien; recitation. 'Hurrah for the Flag"
Helen Bergmann song, Red. White and
National Banner" Pauline Lee; recitation,
The American Flag Bessie Maus; song,
The Beautiful Flag of Liberty school
children; recitation. THE Flag" Deborah
Charlene Brown: recitation, ''Examina-
tons Geneveve kinnear; song, Amer
lea, school children and audience.
The Patriotic Women.
Under the auspices of the Woman's Re
lief Corps of the Department Of the Poto-
mac G. A. R., flag day exercises were held
last evening at the First Presbyterian
Church, Az street near street northwest
The edifce was handsomely decorated for
the occasion. Mrs. Alice Burgess. patriotic
instructor of the corps. presided.
The exercises We're opened with the sing
ing of My Country 'Tis of Thee by the
audience, followed by prayer. offered by
Rev DR.. Davenport, chap!ain-in-chief Of
rhe department of the Potomac An adj
dress of welcome was delivered by Mrs.
Matilda r. Sprague, department president
of the WOmans Relief Corps.
Mr.. w. T.. Andrews, first auditor Of the
Treasury Department, made an address, in
which he traced the history of the flag
from the passage of the first law on the
subject by the continental Congress in
11T7 to the present time. The last act of
Congress regarding the flag, he said, was
passed in 1917, when it was enacted that
after July 4, 1918, the flag of the United
States should consist of - stripes placed
horizontally, with red and white alternat-
ing. and there should be stars in a blue
field. each representing a state, and that
whenever a new state should be admitted
into the Union there should be placed an
additional star in the field. Our flag, he
said. not only represented independence.
but was exponent of that passage of
Scripture, Peace on earth, good will to
men.
Relic of the War.
Mr.. Thomas S. Hopkins, past department
commander. G. A. R., also spoke. After