The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-11-15
MAJOR LORING'S TALK
An Interesting History Of Phil
Kearney Post No. 40, G. "A. r.

The talk of Major F. H. Loring
concerning Phil Kearney post given
Friday evening at the celebration of
the fortieth anniversary Of the found
ing Of the organization is of general
interest and contains facts that
should be preserved. 1t is here given
in full:
Mr.. Chairman and Friends: Your
committee requested that read a
short paper containing some refer
ence to Phil Kearney post and the
part it has had in matters of interest
to the community generally and to
the members of the post especially,
simply to refresh your memory.
/ The story of the organization OF
the Grand Army of the Republic is
an old story, yet the peculiar circum-
stances which brought it into exist
ence and the experiences of those
J five strenuous years throw around it
so much of interest to all our people
that it is ever new and always bears
the telling.
Forty years ago the Grand Army as
an organization began it's existence
and following in the regular course of
events Phil Kearney Post was organ
! lied and the members thereof have
held fast their allegiance to the par
ent army during twenty-five years of
/, life.
The post was organized May, 10,
1881 with twenty-three charter men,
bers.
All of those members are now liv-
ing with the possible exception of
Comrade Charles Gale, who removed
to Kansas and we have no knowledge
otherwise.
We have had twenty-five post COM
manders, only two of whom have been
summoned to the Grand Roll Call on
the other shore, viz: Comrades An
drew D. Coleman and William Kirk
patrick, both of whom passed away
during the present year.
There have been 456 members unit
ed to the post.
OF this number SO have responded
to the roll call beyond the dark riv-
er. 1873 have changed their member
ship elsewhere and there are now
225 members in full standing.
1t has been well said that Phil
Kearney Post was organized early for
work under the Grand body. 1t has
been active from the first as a work
ing body and is today one of the
strongest posts in the state. There
are many old soldiers who are living
in our jurisdiction who have not yet
enrolled their names upon our roster.
But each year brings some additions
| to our membership and It is the wish
of it's members that all who are eli
gible shall wear the bronze button.
In no other way can we so we'll illus
trate our devotion to the flag, or place
in memory the things it stands for as
to carry that little emblem in the left
| lapel of the coat. 1t is an emblem
that not only speaks for him who
wears it, but it speaks of nations
glory Won by devotion and sacrifice
unexcelled in any age in history.
The members of Phil Kearney Post
have constantly kept their camp fires
brightly burning; keeping the oD-
jects of our order constantly in mind.
Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty, the three
great principles that constitute the
foundations thereof.
That Fraternity which binds us to-
gether in a common brotherhood;
never forgetting that our bond had
its beginning in times of prlvation
and danger, influences that win end
only with life. That Charity that will
stand by a brothers side as no other
can in the hours when the misfor-
tunes of life assail him. That Loyal
ty that is the heritage of the fathers,
that received it's baptism in the blood
of the country's heroes, that is ever
true to the Red, White and Blue, and
will forever keep green in memory
the sufferings and sacrifices of the
nations heroic dead.
We have our regular meetings
twice each month and it is pleasure
to note that the attendance is al
portion of the membership in attend
ance at these meetings than is to be
found in attendance in the gatherings
of any other organization in our city.
And there is no annual occasion
set apart for the observance of our
people that receives a more devoted
attention than that of Memorial day,
on the Both OF May each year.
On that day the members of Phil
Kearney Post all ASSEMBLE to renew
friendship, refresh memory, and lay
their tributes on the graves of the
departed comrades. And as the years
go by and the evening shades gather
around us the cords which bind the
brotherhood grow stronger, the ties
of friendship become more keenly APP
parent, and as we count the passing
days and mark me changes that
come from time to time we feel the
need of a true loyalty and love for
the flag and all it stands for, demaVd-
ed now as surely as it was during the
great struggle.