Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-13
UNDER NEW OFFICERS
INSTALLATION CEREMONIES BY
POTOMAC POST, G. A. R.

wi oAAS IOo1, "A. N.
An interesting ceremony attended the in
stallation of the officers of Potomac Post
G. A. r., at Grand Army Hall last night.
w. A. O'Mera, the recently elected COM
mander. made an effort to bring together
large number of the members Of the post
and his effort proved successful. Men who
had been members of the same company
and who had not met since 1861 were in at
tendance and the meeting was more in the
nature of a reunion than of an installation
proceeding.
Commander OMera who claims to be the
youngest man who was in the service, pre-
scented his discharge to the comrades of the
post and was loudly cheered.
The officers who were installed last night
are w. "A. O'Mera, commander; J. H. Ran
dolph. senior vice commander; w. B. Noer
junior vice commander; S. c. Robb chap
lain; w. L. Schmalhoff, quartermaster: G.
w Gladman, officer of the day; Clinton
Vermillion, officer of the guard; j. II Sheck-
eils, outside sentinel; NJ. Sauter, inside SEN
tinel; William II. Hoover, adjutant: H
Zount, sergeant major and J H Bradbury
quartermaster sergeant
Words of Congratulation.
Chaplain Robb, chairman of the finance
the post upon the good work that had been
done by the committee during the past
year. Instead of holding back money in
order to have balance at the end of the
year. he said, all the money had been ex-
pended and much good accomplished The
spending OF the money means that so many
more widows and orphans of soldiers had
been assisted
The retiring commander, ]. Tyler Powell,
thanked the members for the support they
mad given him during the past year B F.
Graham, commander of Farragut Post en-
tertalned the members and congratulated
them upon the enthusiasm they had shown
In turning out in such large numbers to as
sist in the installation of their new officers.
He also congratulated them upon their Sc
lection of W. A. O'Mera, whom he charac-
terized ''double-header," being a member
of the Sons of Veterans as well as of the
parent organize ton.
Before adjournment the death of Wash
Il. Williams, who had been a member of
the post, was announced, and the COM
mander appointed a committee to attend
the funeral. He appointed as members of
the T committee pa1 W e; Hoover S. G. Robb,
Gladman, j.. Sheckells and w A OMera.
Letter From Commander int Chief.
Corporal Tanner, commander of the G.
A r., was to have been present, but a let
ter of regret from him was read. The
letter was addressed to Commander O'Mera
and, In part, reads:
1t would be matter of pleasure to me
If I could be with you, but the demands
upon me are so many and insistent that
my time is mortgaged to the limit l con-
gratulate you on the honor and preferment
the comrades Of Potomac Post have be-
slowed upon you, and l am firm In the
faith that 1 need not stop there, but that 1
can congratulate the post upon having
selected as commander one who will be
fDft II 10
posed in him, who will serve the post to
the best of his ability, and one whose adj
ministration 1 am sure will be of great
benefit to the post"
Commander o'Mera's Add ess.
In entering upon the duties of HIS office
the new commander thanked the members
of the post for the honor that had been
conferred upon him
May the Great Ruler give me wisdom"
he said. ito so provide over your deliberations
that when the time shall come for me to
give way to another you may see in my
work something to commend and much for
which to be thankful Neither of these re-
suits can possibly be attained without the
full and hearty support of the post This
l earnestly invoke, promising in return the
whole of my very best efforts in making old
Potomac the peer of the best post in the
Department of the Potomac.
1t Is with extreme pleasure that I call
your attention to the address, first of the
Sons of Veterans. and next, the order of
our r-in-chief. You are all per-
fectly familiar with both the address and
the order, as they We're read in the post.
las I review the past and consider the
inevitable of the future, say to you men,
bers of Potomac Post and to all the mem
bers OF the Grand Army in my hearing. let
us be prompt In putting around these dear
sons our strong arm Of protection.
Passing of the g. A. r.
Comrades, all too soon those sons will
be all that is left to tell the wondrous
story of a fathers love Of country of
fathers love of humanity, of a fathers
devotion to the dear old flag, of a fathers
tribulations. of fathers wounds and of a
fathers sickness, sorrow and death, that
these sons might enjoy the blessings Of
one country and one flag.
AT reception given by the Department
OF the Potomac to Comrade VIM. Warner,
senator from Missouri, the department
commander introduced a member as being
the youngest soldier of the war of the re-
bellfon. When stood at this altar to be
as a member of the Grand Army. it was
then said that our post had the Oldest SOL
der in the person of Officer of the Day
Gladmans father. and In myself the
youngest soldier. l have brought along
with me tonight my discharge to show
you. 1t is here for your inspection. 1t
gives my age as twelve years, but there
are living today members of my company
who know and will testify that added one
year to my age at the suggestion of Major
Everett, when they were making up the
muster roll of my company, and was mus
tered into the service. Notwithstanding
the additional year, was rejected by the
mastering officer. General Mcdowell, be-
cause of my age. He said it was against
the rules and regulations of the army to
admit me.
President Lincoln's Intsrcsssion.
II owe my enlistment to that patriot and
martyr. the ilustrious President. Abraham
Lincoln. He came upon the ground as my
company was being mustered into service.
I went to him with tears In my eyes and
asked him to have me enlisted. He took