The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-08-07
FLAG PRESENTATION
Department Of South Dakota
q. A. II. Receives Il Hand
some FlaS from the
w. Il. e.. OF the
state

state
A Most Pleasing and Inter esting
Ceremony
At the last state encampment
of the G. A. r., which was held at
Simpson Park on Big Stone lake,
the w. r. G.. of the state resolved
to purchase flag and present it
to the G.. A. r. in time for that
body to carry it to the national
encampment at San Francisco
this month. The matter was
placed in the hands of a committee
of the ladies consisting of
Mesdames J. w. Johnson, r.
Fitch and r. T. Rodgers of the
Milbank Corps and Mrs. Lizzie
Leavitt of the Sisseton Corps, to
raise the funds and secure the
flag. The ladies successfully
accomplished the undertaking
and most beautiful flag of finest
banner silk with gilt fringe, and
inscribed &c. A. r. Department
of South Dakota was secured at
an expense of about $50. 1t was
purchased from E. Williamson &
Co., of Minneapolis, and is a
very handsome piece of work.
The local Relief Corps resolved
to make the turning over of
the flag to the G.. A. r. a
pleasant social event and invited
members of the orders to a
public dinner at the A. o. U. w.
hall last Tuesday. The dinner
was one of the most elaborate
public affairs ever given in
Milbank and consisted of four
courses, ranging from chicken
pie to ice cream, and served by a
number of young ladies, the
tables being prettily decorated
with a profusion of flowers.
After the dinner the company
gathered in the hall, chairman
Fitch called the meeting to order
and stated it's object, and after
the singing of America, called
upon Rev. Lyman to invoke the
blessing of Deity upon the
proceedings. This was followed
by patriotic song by E. p.
Brockman, and Past Commander
n. |. Lowthian gave history of
the national flag, and introduced
Mrs. J. r. Mason, the state
president of the Relief Corps,
who made the presentation
speech on behalf of the ladies,
and turned the flag over to the
G.. A. r. of the department OF
South Dakota. Mrs. Mason
stated that the credit for securing
the flag belonged largely to the
ladies of the Milbank Corps,
they having suggested the
purchase and worked for the
attainment of their object. The
flag was received by Department
Commander Thomas Reed and
on behalf of the G.. A. r. of the
state, he thanked the ladies for
the beautiful emblem which had
been presented to the depart
ment, and stated that it would
be treasured by the members Of
the department as long as there
; is a member of the G. A. Il. alive
in the state. Both the words
of Mrs. Mason, the president
and those of the commander
awakened many tender memories
of the war time and touched {
responsive chord in the hearts
of all present, making the even
one to be remembered. After
the presentation a few remark:
were made by Messrs. Volkmar
Downie and Revs. Watson ane
Lyman, and Capt. Lindquist or
behalf of the militia, a choir o
singers rendering a number 0
selections a: intervals.
The hall was prettily decorated
, for the occasion with nationa
colors, and one of the particula
, objects of interest was a fla.
with a history, brought to tn
, hall by Mrs. William Lowthian
: The flag was given to Mrs. Low
THAN by her father, Roger Farrell
who was captain on the gunboa
Pampero, one of the boats Q
Faragut's feet during the civ
war. The flag is marked wit
n several holes where shot an
shell had passed through it i
the days of battle. When Capt
Farrellreturned home he secure
. the flag as war relic, and CAV
: it to his father, John Farrell, fo
0 safe keeping. Upon the deaf
of his father the flag was return
ed to him and upon his deceas
he placed it in the keeping of hi
daughter, who treasures it as
n sacred relic of her father