Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1907-03-23
Tribute of Friendly Sons of st.
Patrick to Commodore
Barry.
Bronze Statue Unveiled at Phil
adelphia by Great. Great
Grandniece.
Glowing EulOgy of Founder of
the American Navy by
Gen. Steward.
FAMOUS IRISH NAVAL HERO HOEORED

AS the guns of League Island thun-
dered forth an Admirals salute Satur-
day afternoon two great American
flags fell from the heroic bronze
statue of John Barry, the founder of
the American navy, erected in the
center of independence Square in
Philadelphia. The green silllen cords
(which released the emblem of liberty
concealing the memorial were pulled
by pretty twelye-year-old Elsie Hazel
Hepburn, great-great-grandniece of
Commodore Barry, and as the red,
white and blue banners settled grace
fully on the grass the band played
the national anthem and the thou
sands who witnessed the ceremony
stood with uncovered heads.
Thousands of patriotic citizens at
tended the ceremony of unveiling the
handsome memorial, erected and pre-
scented TO the city by the Friendly
Sons of st. Patrick. Among those in
the square or on the crowded speak
ers' stand were high officers of he
army and navy. the Mayor of the city
and members of Councils. Adjt. Gen.
Thomas j. Stewart, President of the
society, presided over the exercises,
and Bishop Alexander Mackay th
opened the exercises with prayer, in
which he paid a glowing tribute to
the great men of the past, among
whom Commodore Barry was such a
shining light. Gen. st. Clair A. Null
holland, chairman of the committee
appointed to erect the memorial.
briefly outlined the work done and
then called on the fair descendant
of Barry's brother to unveil the
statue. Standing we'll to the front
of the platform, gowned in white and
wearing large white hat, the only
bit of color about her being a bunch
of pink roses which she carried, the
little girl presented a picture not
soon to be forgotten by those who
saw her. Not one bit disturbed by
the thousands of eyes watching her
so intently. she grasped the cords
and gave them a pull which brought
them down gracefully to the ground,
leaving the handsome bronze statue
exposed to the full view of the crowd.
while the band which accompanied
the marines played the national an
them.
On behalf of the society Adit. Gen.
Stewart then formally turned the
statue over to Mayor Weaver, as the
representative of the city. After
thanking the committee for the work
so well done, he continued:
Tbss asfa4,,a s- an. ff;,,sr nd cr7,ofc-
full tribute of the society, to one of
its members. and to a noble and
faithful patriot and officer of the
American navy in the formative and
Hateful days of the great nation, a
nation whose commission and conf
dence he enjoyed, whose sword he
carried. and for whose glory he
fought more than a century ago. The
infant navy, of which John Barry
was designated by Washington as the
senior captain. and of which he was
the first commodore, today demands
the respect of every nation in the
world Tt has grown great and strong
through more than a century of mag
nifieent achievements and deeds of
wondrous valor and heroism.
From Commodore John Barry to
Admiral George Dewey the American
navy has given to the naval annals
of the world great host of con-
spicuous and mighty names. and
among these names, shining in
briliancy of achievement, loyalty and
unsurpassed bravery, are found those
who either fby birth or lineage or of
that race whose sons have written in
blood the story of Irish courage and
devotion wherever the war-day BAN
ners of this republic were unfurled
in bat BILE, or where, amid the carnage
of mighty conflict, brave men sank
uncoffined to their resting place in
the gardens of the sea.
Here. under the shadow of indie
pendence Hall, the Cradle of Liberty,
is the fitting place to rear this
tribute to one of that galaxy of great
men who made way for liberty, and
who steadied the steps of the infant
republic which today sits enthroned
among the nations of the earth, all
of whom pay tribute to her might,
acknowledge her greatness and salute
her flag. The faith the founders
pledged, we have kept; the glory
they hoped for, we have won; the in
saved. and transmit unimpaired to
the generations that shall follow us.
Within sight of this spot the first
Constitutional Congress met and here
was given to the world the sublime
Declaration of Independence, that
from the day it was first publicly
proclaimed by being read in public
by Col. John Nixon. the son of an
freshman, to this day. has been recog-
nized as the grandest document ever
conceived by brain, or written by pen
of man. In support of that Declara-
tion, young Irishman, thirty-one
years of age. John Barry. to use his
own language. abandoned the finest
ship and the first employ in America"
and offered his service, and If need be
his life.
Every nation, or people, or race,