The National tribune., 1906-10-18
THE ENCAMPMENT PARADE.
Let 1t start Early and On Time.

Editor National Tribune: I have
read very carefully your article in The
National Tribune of the 9th inst, and
l heartily agree with YOU that it would
be great mistake to dispense with the
parade at our Annual Encampments,
and there are many reasons why we
should not especially al this date. First,
majority OF the veterans are anxious
to march if rightfully managed. Sec
ond. the public. especially the younger
class. want to SEQ the men in line who
fToia 81 to.a'65 dared death for our
country. and they want to cheer and
honor them; and there is no way in
which they can do it so we'll as when
they are in line, marching with the "old
flag which our fathers gave u.s. and
since its baptism by the blood of their
SONS the whole world honors our
flag, and none but an idiot or fool
would dare insult it.
Thirdly, the citizens of the cities who
make the preparations for our enter
tanment want to see the men for whom
they have spent days in preparing
and in what other way can it be done
There is no public hall yet made
which will hold the veterans and
the citizens all at one time: therefore,
their only hope for seeing is by having
the parade. The fact is as you put it
in your article. "the parade" is the great
feature of the Encampment for the
masses.
Those who assist in making the En-
eampment success want to see the
Veterans" and their. interests should
be considered.
Your article named one point
where when a great part of the ia
tigue" rests. That is in the getting into
position, and then standing in the
street, waiting in the hot sun and on
the hot pavements. The writer once
endured this for one and one half
hours at one Encampment in New York
State. (The result of some official hav-
ing late breakfast. and then waiting
70 get his dress parade" uniform on
The parade was to move at 1890 a.
m. sharp. The result was that we did
not move until II m. and many left to
get something to eat, and never came
back into line.
One point on which you did not
touch. and which ! consider the most
of the parade. The parade should be-
gin early in the morning. when the
comrades are fresh from a good night s
rest; not later than a. M, or even
$50, and the marching all completed
before noon.
Let the drums rattle at sunrise. The
boys will be on hand as they used to
L
The difficulty has been with the Off
GERS who don't like to get up in the
morning.
1 would like to see this tried next
year. And n the comrades want it, and
insist on it, they will have no trouble
in bringing 1t about.
There Will be no trouble in the citi-
zens getting out. If we should adver-
tise to move at 6 o'clock a. m, they
would be on hand.
Your idea in regard to street cars
| to carry the comrades to points OF
rendezvous when they are mile OF
more distant, the commander OF rhe
! different Departments to be guided by
| citizens committee who are acquaint-
ed with all the starting points, is a good
suggestion. These points should be all
decided on the day before the parade
and all comrades who are to command
| Departments, and their Aids, should
be thoroughly instructed as to theil
several positions in the line of march
and then to. move promptly on time
and If any Departments are deljnGuen,
| in getting into line let the next in order
| take their place. But by all mean:
have the parade start at the appointed
time
| The National Tribune is on the Fright
of the line in regard to the parade
Keep it to the front, and the boys viii
be with you :. The exceptions are few
where they are not only able, bu
willing. to fall in for two-mile march
if only they are properly handled anC
led.
i / would be pleased to see in prin
i expressions from the different Depart
ments as TO what they think of an ear
lier start for our parades in the future
! E. H. Sentell Commander, Dwigh
>! Post, 109. SJdus Point, n. Y.