Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-12-05
Flag Raising at Downer Public School.

The Junior American Mechanics Of
Glassboro, Clayton and Cross Keys joined
together and presented the school at Downer
with flag on Thanksgiving Day. Owing
to the extremely cold weather the exercises
were held in the school house, which was
well filed with visitors and children and
at the conclusion of the exercises the flag
was thrown to the breeze amid the firing of
salute by corps from Glassboro members
of that lodge, also singing by the school
children.
There were appropriate exercises by the
school children, under the direction of Miss
Morgan, the teacher, after which a presen-
tation speech was made by Mr. Frank
Bowen, member of Glassboro lodge and
formerly principal of Glassboro schools,
who spoke in his characteristic way. Mr..
MarstelIar, Supervising Principal of the
schools Of Monroe township, made very
appropriate address of acceptance. DR..
Iszards, of Glassboro, who presented the
pole, also made some remarks, dwelling on
the principles Of the Order. Harry Crist
was introduced, and after making some
complimentary remarks, in thanking the
members of the Order on behalf OF the
School Board Of Monroe township for their
patriotic stand, spoke about as follows:
We are told in history that the Romans
carried their standard into all their wars,
and upon that standard was inscribed these
letters: S. P. @. R., meaning, the Senate,
the People and Romans. But it IS not nee
essary for us to have an inscription on our
standard as every school boy knows what
our standard stands for.
You have just flung to the breeze piece
of bunting, and in doing so have unfurled
the emblem of the greatest Republic the
world has ever known. The lamented Nc
Kinley once said that where the flag has
once been planted there it must remain. "
And, while that was only figure of speech
yet its significance was great So let us
this day resolve, that now the stars and
stripes have been planted upon the grounds
of the school of the village of Downer,
henceforth shall the emblem of liberty float
over this community. And may the chill
dren when playing or romping around this
pole, and when glancing upward and be-
holding the red, white and blue, | say may
they be reminded of this fact, that to pre-
serve and to hand down to us this glorious
banner which we all love so well has cost
this great nation of ours billions OF dollars
and the precious blood and lives OF over one
million of our noblest sons. l say noblest,
for if there is one noble man it surely must
be he who offers his life for his country.
History tells us that all nations and tribes
and peoples, way back in the remote past,
have had flags or banners or embiems OF
some kind, not only that they might be
distinguished from other nations or tribes,
but to serve as beacon light whereby their
feet might be guided through life's pilgrim
age, and when emergency arises, to protect
them by its encircling folds
Longfellow, the most popular OF Amer
lean poets, says that
Great heights, by great men reached and kept,
Were not attained by single flight;
But they, while their companions slept
Were toiling upward in the night
And SO it is with this starry emblem which
we have just caused to ascend heavenward.
1t was not completed in a day nor week
nor month nor a year, nor score OF years.
But beginning at the birth of the nation
over century ago, and containing thirteen
stars, representing the original states, it has
been added to time and again until to-day
it numbers forty-fye; and instead Of repre-
senting a narrow strip of land along the
Atlantic coast, as it originally did, it rep
resents all Of the vast territory between
the Atlantic and the Pacific, between the
great lakes at the chilly North to the Gulf
of Mexico and the Rio Grande at the sunny
South. And away beyond to the West
India Islands, to Hawaii, and to the oppo-
site side of the earth-to the Orient, or
Philippine Islands. And while we may
differ in our opinions as to the righteous
ness or business in carrying the flag OF the
Republic into war of conquest and subju-
CATION, nevertheless, we humbly and peace
fully submit to the will Of the majority.
And let US on this day, this Thanks
giving Day, invoke the divine aid of the
great, supreme and omnipotent Ruler OF
universe, He who guided the footsteps of
our forefathers during the darkest hours OF
the Republics history, and pray that wher-
ever our standard may be set, it may be in
the interest of the oppressed and for the
uplifting of suffering humanity. And may
not only this generation, but all genera
lions to come, be able to point with pride
and say, with Francis Scott Key, that
The starspangIed banner in triumph. still
Der the land of the free and the home of the
brave.