Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1906-06-22
ANNUAL ENCAMpM NJ ENT
Men from s:lack Hills who Saved Union
Will Meet Again June 21th at
Hot Springs.


come and gone since we first met and
organized our ASSOCIATION at Sturgis.
They have hnen years of struggle to
many. changes to all. Not more than
half of those who were with us on that
never to be forgotten occasion are now
living
No blare of trumpets or brass bands
heralded our coming, but the whole
there were such hand to hand clasps
and heart to heart greetings as will
ever remain a beautiful memory. We
had no great orators to make stately
speeches, but we had short talks filled
with the spirit within us; pathetic
stories. incidents and anecdotes that
caused streaming eyes and shouts of
laughter. There were songs, too, that
carried US away back to the long weary
march, the bivouac, and the fierce
fiery struggles OF battle There we're
present also the wives aud sweethearts
of comrades, some of whom we're still
| waiting to hear the familiar football
that never came.
That in brief, was how and under
what circumstances we held our first
reunion The executive committee are
planning to have our nineteenth an
nual meeting at Hot Springs on the
Goth and 9th of this month on similar
lines, and itappeals to every old soldier
in the Hills to lay aside his ever round
of toll and duty and give two days to
fraternal greetings and the renewal of
good comradeship, knowing that it will
not be for long that we shall be permit.
ted to so meet and greet each other;
and do not forget to bring the good
wife who has all these years been faith.
full in many things, and in none more
so than in memory of the great strug-
gle for national life and the days you
wooed and won her.
The outing, though brief, will add to
the garnered memories of the long ago.
The members of the Woman's Relief
Corps-our more than comrades
whose grand work is only measured by
the length of their lives, are invited to
become part Of us, adding to our en-.
joyment and bringing good cheer to all.
[ need not say that the Spanish Amer.
ican war veterans who are part and
parcel of our organization, receive the
right hand of fellowship.
A few weeks ago in every city and
hamlet of the Black Hills, and all over
the land, the people came together and
with loving hearts and tender memo
ries, and crowned with fowersl and
branches of evergreen the graves of our
departed comrades.
The thought comes to me sometimes
that if we would strew more flowers in
the pathway of the living and fewer on
our graves, they would tighten the bur-
den of many Il weary heart, and cheer
the life OF many weary comrade, lift.
J ing him to Il higher place of duty, and
: the sunlight OF his life would be bright
ened and cheered as the twilight gath
ers around him.
1t is not what he may be today, with
gray hairs and faltering steps, mayhaI
an empty sleeve-and oft-times bur
dened soul-but it is what he WAS and
/. DID in his young strong manhood
E and to him and to those like him We
: owe all we are as mighty people, ii
unity, in strength, in power, in peace
q commerce and wealth. They saved {
y nation, redeemed race, and preserved
= a union of the states and made al
Z glorious the flag that is honored in
a every land, and is the symbol of liberty
u to the oppressed of all nations. W.
y would therefore most cordially invit,
those of younger generation to pu
aside their strenuous life for brle
span and come and join with us ant
let your presence inspire anew ou
loyalty and love of country and leav
j the fragrance of flowers on the heart
i and lives of these comrades while liy
q ing.
) The press of the Hills, which ha
ever been most generous to our associ
: alton, is asked to give this meeting tn
: widest publicity and no class of citizen
will be given kinder welcome to ou
y good cheer, and special invitation j
hereby extended.
o The lowest pnssihla ratoe mill ho or
cured by rail. and every effort will b
made by the commander of the So
diers' Home and citizens of Hot Spring
to make all welcome. The program G
n exercises will be issued later.
,s c. V. GARDNER.
y President of Association.
f. Reward.
y | r,,:l1 49, aEn