The National tribune., 1908-07-02
FLAG PRESENTATION.
Mrs. Berry Observation-Disclosures Observes
Flag Day-Lawtsn Particularly Patri-
Otic-Exercises Held All Over the


Mrs. Berry Observation-Disclosures Observes
Fling Day-Lawtsn Particularly Patri-
Otic-Exercises Held All Over the
Country.
r One of the very pretty features of
Flag Day week was the presentation to
Mrs. Elizabeth Robbins Berry, of Bos-
ton, but more recently of Washington,
of handsome silk flag and streamers
by her patriotic friends in Washington.
Mrs. Berry was at once accepted in
Washington by the patriotic societies,
and has made hundreds of friends.
When the Isabel Worrell-Ball Flag
Association was organized, Mrs. Chris
tine Walton Dunlap, the originator of
the idea, and the President, by unani-
nous election asked Mrs. Berry TO be
drill master of the organization, which
has a membership Of go. The member
ship is not confined to members OF
patriotic organizations, but includes
many ladies who have never allied
themselves with any other body of
women. The work of the organization
has been confined to fancy drills,
marches and picturesque evolutions,
and the demands for these are numer-
Gus and growing. The display of near
ly 500 flags in the ceremonies at the
Union Station the day the late Maj
his natal home in Kingston, N. Y, was
so picturesquely beautiful as to draw
high praise from Gen. Bell, Chief of
Staff, u. S. A, and Mrs. Ball, who was
appointed by Cen Bell as his. repre-
sentative for the societies of women,
was also congratulated by the Kings
ton committee, officially. and, by the
descendants of Gen. Clinton who were
present at the ceremonies. 1t is stated
that the military arm of the Govern
ment never before permitted women to
take any part in the military cere-
monies. The Flag Association, which is
named for Mrs. Ball, was the leader in
the ceremonies, and was assisted by
the Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton, the Color Bearers of every Corps
of the Department of Potomac, w. r.
c., the Ladies of the G. A. r., the
Daughters of Veterans, and many other
organizations.
Many of the members of these or
CARNATIONS Immediately asked to be
permitted to join the Flag Association.
Mrs. Berry has also assisted Mrs. Ball
in organizing and drilling the John A.
Logan Girls Flag Brigade, of Ana
costa, a team of 16 young ladies, and
was a welcome visitor at John A. Logan
Corps and Phil Sheridan Corps. She
gave both the benefit of her wide ex-
perience in drill work. The ladies of
all these organizations united to do
honor 10 Mrs. Berry, and the Flag was
presented on the night of the Flag
Day exercises at John \. Logan Corps
The presentation was made by Mrs.
Isabel Worrel-Ball, with pretty cere-
monies and flag escort. Mrs. Ball spoke
briefly of the high esteem and love
which the ladies of the patriotic socie-
ties had for Mrs. Berry and her I'M
selfish devotion to patriotic work, and
in behalf of the ladies presented the
colors.
Mrs. Berry was utterly surprised and
almost speechless, but in a few words
of delighted appreciation accepted the
Flag, declaring that she would treasure
it always, because she loved the Flag,
and loved the donors. There was ire
mendOus applause when the Flag was
presented.
Mrs. Berry. who is Past National
Press Correspondent of the Womap's.
Relief Corps, is a newspaper woman
Of continent wide fame, magazine
and short story writer. and. on occa-
sion has written some beautiful patri-
otic poems, several of which have been
printed in The National Tribune.
Mrs. Berry also received from the
John A. Logan Girls Flag Brigade, a
great shower bouquet of sweet peas in
.iers of red, white and blue. Mrs. Ball
was the recipient of like favor from
the young l<tlies.'
Lawton, Okla.
Lawton, okla, did herself high honor
or Flag Day. 1t came on Sunday, Flag
Day did, as everybody knows, and was
mostly observed by schools on Friday
md by patriotic organizations on Sat
Irday. Down in Lawton, that wonder
lay almost, by request of Lawton Post, |
irand Army of the Republic, Flag Day
were held on Sunday, the real
birthday anniversary of the flag. And
Why not? Next to teaching the re-
igion of Christ what holier, what high
II duty is there than teaching the re-
igion of good citizenship, loyalty-the |
eligion of the flag, and it please ypu2I
ne Patriotic Instructor of Lawton Post,
,omrade' Elmer S. Battin,~ issued in
'itations to the members of the
hurches and Sunday schools to attend
he Flag Day exercises in the Opera
House, which had been swept and gar
ished and decorated lavishly with flags
nd flowers for the occasion. The Su-
'erintendent of the City Schools, T. r.
2ybolt, invited all the school children
to attend the exercises. The
opera House was packed, and that was
t it should be. When a whole city
urns loose to celebrate Flag Day you
an be pretty sure that that town is
live and sitting up and taking notice
f everything.
The Mayor Of Lawton, R. A. Jones,
lso issued a proclamation calling upon
he citizens Of Lawton to observe the
ay, and part of that proclamation is
7orth reprinting many times:
.'As Flag Day, June IA, this year falls
n Sunday, a day of rest and worship,
yhen our. minds are free from the busy
ares of the week, / cannot conceive
hat the display of the Stars and Stripes,
he emblem os that Righteousness which
xalteth a Nation could in any way
esecrate the Sabbath. Therefore, inJ
pursuance of the Governors proclama-
ION, I hereby proclaim Sunday, June
A., 1908, as Flag Day in the city of
.awton, and that the flag, the emblem
( a free and happy people. be display
d from and in all our public buildings,
nd that the citizens as far as conven-
emit, display the flag from their, resi-
ences, and in so doing instruct their
in, patriotism and love of home,
With due reverence for the fiag-your
lag and our flag" .e &c ~--'t-'r
The songs, Rotations and speeches
we're appropriate and well received by I
he great audience. The presentation
f the fine silk flag at the G. A. r. Post.
rom the Woman's Relief Corps. was
leasing and appropriate. while the flag
rill by the "a school girls. under the
leadership of Miss Blanch Merton. was
he best ever seen in Lawton. or in the
tate, for that matter. ~ - ~-zs
The credit for this most successful
Incident is due Capt. Elmer S. Battin,
he Patriotic Instructor of Lawton, and
is safe to say that there was not any