The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-06-25
SPEAKERS ROUSE PATRIOTISM
Many Men Who Had Distinguished
Careers in the War Aid in Paying
Honor to Mr.. Simmons and
Their Comrades in Arms

day evening and the event proved to be
one of the greatest patriotic gatherings
ever held in Kenosha. Five hundred Of
the old boys in blue came from all over
Wisconsin and Illinois and nearly every
state in the Union was represented
among the guests who wore the Grand
Army badge. It proved an inspiring
evening for the old soldiers and just as
inspiring for thousands Of Kenosha peo-
pie who filed the grounds about the
house and listened to the speeches by
the distinguished members of the Grand
Army.
The old soldiers began dropping into
the city early in the afternoon and by
five o'clock they had begun to gather
at the Grand Army Hall. Great nun
bers came down on the special cars
from Racine and when the line formed
to march to the Park avenue church
where dinner was served, there were
more than three hundred in line. The
church had been decorated splendidly
with flags and flowers for the coming
of the guests and covers were laid for
more than two hundred. On account
of the large number of guests it was
necessary to set the tables twice and
during the evening nearly four hundred
were served. The dinner was served
by the ladies of the church and it GER
tainly was one worthy Of the hostesses.
One pretty feature of the evening was
the fact that every one Of the guests
was presented with a rose the gift Of
Joseph Bishop of Somers
After dinner, headed by the band, the
guests marched to the home of Mr..
Simmons where they were received by
Mr.. Simmons, assisted by Mr.. and Mrs.
A. II. Lance, Mr.. and Mrs. z. G. Sim
mons, Jr., Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Towne,
Mr.. and Mrs. Ezra Simmons, Mrs. Gill
bert M. Simmons, Mr.. and Mrs. James
Cavanagh, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles G.
Brown and Mr.. and Mrs. Walter
Cavanagh.
While the informal reception was 60
ing on there was music by the band and
a great concourse of people gathered
in front of the house and as well known
! comrades appeared they were greet
ed with cheers. The decorations Of the
house and grounds was most elaborate.
Over the porch was great American
Eagle, done in lights of red and white
and blue, while all about the house were
great strings of blazing lights. Just
over the porch were the words "G. A.
r. Comrades and out further in the
yard between the trees was another
motto in~light $685." Hanging from
the trees was great American flag
it's colors brought out with myriad
of lights. Lanterns strung from the
trees about the yard added color to the
decorations. It was blaze Of light
and glory and as the old soldiers march
ed into the yard they hailed the decora-
tions with continued cheering.
| All Of the old timers were on hand
for the reunion and while at, the last
minute General Burton the Grand Com
mander was forced to- &c to Detroit,
there was nothing lacking in the spirit
shown by the old veterans in the alb
sence of their grand commander. The
crowd completely filed the yard about
the Simmons home and from the first
sound of the bugle till the last vet
eran had left for his home, there was
something doing. Music was furnished
| by the quartette from the E. B. Wolcott
Post IN Milwaukee and they brought
into play all the old time war songs
and the members Of the Grand Army
crowded around and joined in the chorus
with as much spirit as when they march
| ed away from home more than forty
years ago.
In the crowd were forty members
from the Milwaukee Post fifty from Ra-
cine, thirty from Waukegan, sixty from
Kenosha, twenty-five from Chicago and
great number of smaller delegations
representing nearly every state in the
union. There was a large number of
new faces in the assembly, but there
were also many who had attended the
annual reunions for the last decade.
AS usual Mr.. Simmons provided well
and the meeting at the house was one
OF the informal smokers and camp fires
SO dear to the hearts of the members of
the Grand Army.
Past Grand Commander General A.
y. Weissert of Milwaukee acted as
master OF ceremonies and in introducing
the first speaker he paid high tribute
to Mr.. Simmons. This tribute of re-
speet was characteristic of all the
], speeches during the evening. The first
speaker was Benjamin F. Bryan Of La
Crosse, Past Department. Commander,
1t was the first visit Of Comrade Bryan
to Kenosha and he brought a compli.
ment to Mr.. Simmons from the men who
were in Kenosha for the first time. ':I
was IN the department of Ohio,' said
Comrade Bryan "and I have always
thought that there was no reason for
Ohio to step up to Wisconsin. Now
find, however, that reason. for Wisconsin