Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-23
GIVEN A TES NAL
Senator Harris and Representative Foss a
Special Guests.
Regular and Volunteer Army and
Navy Union COnfcrs Honorary
Membership Upon Them.

| The members Of all the garrisons of the
! Regular and Volunteer Army and Navy
Union in the District of Columbia, except
| that Of the United States ship Dolphin,
now absent from the city, met in Stanley
| Hall at the Soldiers Home last evening to
witness the presentation to Senator Will
| liam A. Harris of Kansas and Representa-
tive George E. Foss of Illinois, each. of a
gold badge and gold button, the insignia
of the order, together with certificate of
honorary membership in the national or
ganiZation, in the name of the National
Corps.
The hall was beautifully decorated in
honor Of the occasion. On the right of the
platform there was a large portrait of
President Mckinley, and near the ceiling
above the center, one of Admiral Dewey
On the left of the stage Mr.. Edward A
Buck, electrician of the home had erected
a fireplace, in which, by a skillful arrange
ment Of electric lights, there appeared to
be a cheerful fire burning. Deputy Gov
ernor Bernard and Quartermaster Taylor
occupied seats on the platform
The garrisons present were: General Will
liam F. Barry, No. 1876; Admiral D. ID. Por-
ter, No. Is, and General Guy V. Henry No
III. A number of ladies We're present also
Music was furnished by the Soldiers Home
Band, Prof. NJ. c. Meyrelles leader and
previous to the beginning of the regular
exercises they discoursed a number of ma
tional airs.
The exercises of the evening were in
charge of Commander Michael ]. Hackett
of Gen. Barry Garrison, the inspector gem
eral of the National Corps. In placing The
insignia OF the organization upon Senator
Harris and Representative Foss, and In
presenting them with their certificates,
commander Hackett was assisted by John
Brockman. assistant inspector general, and
member of Gen. Barry Garrison
The Commanders Remarks,
Commander Hackett said: AT the ninth
annual convention Of the Regular and Vol
unteer Army and Navy Union, which was
in session at Washington, D. c., October Is.
10 and 20, 1899, resolutions were unani-
mously adopted by the National Corps to
elect to honorary membership William A.
Harris, United States senator from Kan
sas, and George z. Foss, representative in
Congress from Illinois, a mark of appre-
citation on the part of the members of the
National Corps of the work done bv those
gentlemen In the United States Senate and
House of Representatives, respectively for
the good of thu members of the order ~
large.
The duty devolved upon him. he said as
the representative of the national order to
present the testimonials to Senator Harris
and Representative Foss.
In accepting. Senator Harris said If en-
barrassed him to remember that he had
done so little for the members of the order
and to receive so much in return. What
A.
uonal Corps had been pleasure He then
referred to the fact that at the outbreak
OF the civil war he was a student at the
Virginia Military Institute: that he fol-
lowed Stone wall Jackson until the death
of the latter, and that he wore the gray
from 1861 TO 1865. He was therefore
doubly delighted that it had been in his
power to do something to make more Meas
ant the declining years of the old sailors
he knew what 1t was to face musketry in
the deadly charge, and whenever he
though- of this he was drawn nearer to the
old soldiers and sailors.
In concluding, Senator Harris said there
was one more monument he would like To
see erected in Washington This. he said
was one to commemorate the battle of
Gettysburg-one side to be inscribed. ITO
American Valor.' and on another the i'm
mortal words of Webster: Liberty and
Union, Now and Forever, One and Insepa-
rable.' He assured his hearers that the
testimonial given him would be handed
down TO his son, who fought at Santiago.
and he had no doubt it would be cherished |
by him.
The Country Reunited.
Mr.. Foss, in acknowledgment of the honor
paid him. said he had been promised when |
he consented to attend the meeting that |
he would not be called on for a speech, and |
now that he was overcome by the hand |
some presents given him, he felt that he /
would better keep quiet. He could not be- |
lieve he had done SO much for the sailor |
soldier that he deserved to be singled |
out for the honors which had been con-