The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-08-28
West RiUer TOlCns
TOWNSHEND HOST
OF G. A. II. VETERANS
Annual Rsunioa Of wlndham County
Veterans Association Largely Az,
tended Taesday-0oy. Proc
tor Ono OF the Speakers.

ham Coualy Veterans Association an
their wives and friends peunni into loNt
until a hll lUo0 Ioaple NrFe gathered ~
the common, II h estimated by the SIC
nviaD that 100 old soldiers NrIe present
ill IL whom, lei by Col, Alvin Franklin
and the Narlshoro oonei band, formed
in pnooosslon and marched around tbs
common Dinner Mas served Ia tbs tow
hall and Ia the Baptist Nesirg, over aot
being fed
A gTands,and had been erected on The
common and iasiciully dfal-d with hunt
ins aud ilags After dinner the company
gathered about this and listened 20 The
pn,gnm II the day, Col, Franklin being
master ~ ceremonies. Rev DANIEL
Aelntyrr Offered prayer, after which Cvi.
Franklin introduced "a man who had cn'
deanei himself 10 the people Of Vermont
through his wise Observance Of the bus
mess aiIairs of the state 10 that today no
state ia the union Is cleaner than Yer
mont: his cXoellcney. Gov. Fletcher u.
Proctor
Governor Prorior said that his mission
on this, his serond. Nisl, 10 Iownshend
was pleasant one aud that he was glad
TO attend the muninn, as be irarcd that
therc was danger ot the younger genera
tion looking upon these reunions ~ some
thing apart ffum themselves; that u was
difficult task for one whose memory
does not go back 10 even the last years
OF the war TO address veterans Many
who bear the burdens Of today were born
since Lcc surrendered 10 Grant; but u Is
no fault Of ours that we could not be
partakers in events 50 momcnlous 10 You
and also 10 rs aud 10 our country. We
are going too fast and too far m obliter-
ating the memory Of the Civil war. We
should not forget nor should We let our
children forget the sacrifice and the prin-
ciples involved Bitterness should be for
gotten, but sacrifice aud principles never.
Let US teach our children 10 avoid a civil
war il possible, but, II II must come, 20
meet il. as you met II IN 6l. Let us re-
member that We are today enjoying great
blessings. purcr homes, better education,
great commercial and financial develop
ments, due to the fruits OF this war The
Rebellion made present conditions and
future prospects possible You fought not
merely TO free the slaves, hut 20 establish
true democracy. \ government OF the
people. for the people. and by the people.
As il all fades into history may our graf.
itude be purer and stronger aud feeling
OF greater responsibility rest upon US. The
future will not take care OF itself. The
dangers OF peace are greater than those
of war. II was not the negative well
WlsntT WHO sthitu ~ HuuS' but lHt Hidi
of positive character who went forth to
do and TO die, who saved the nation. So
the positive man of today will preserve
what you of the Grand Army saved.
The next speaker was Col. j. III. Could |
ing of Wilmington, who said that he was |
no speechmaker and that he wished the |
audience safely through what he was
going to say. That he had faced many |
dangers, but never such danger as trying |
to make a speech. He hoped that the |
present generation would never see the |
smoke and battle, and the cleaning bay |
onets, or feel the thrill of waiting for the |
should need arise he believed they would
fight as did their fathers. This is a
great country OF many interests, and it is
a civic duty that rests on us today A
man is better citizen for being a soldier. |
There are no safer men in the country
than the men of the Grand Army" He
closed by saying: 81 love you all, and
SO far as ] have seen them, / love your
wives, too"
Next Mrs. II. V; Dale sang in her
sweet, clear voice, All Hail Thou Land
fame gave an excellent rendering of Whit.
tiers poem, Barbara Frietchie. Misses
Pauline Audrey and Camilla Franklin sang
Daisies in the Meadow. in way which
won the hearts of all. Col. Franklin then
called on Rev. Daniel Mcintyre, who said
that formerly more than now it was the
custom for the wearers of the cloth to
come into prominence upon all public oc-
casions, but that he was glad that there
are men now who can well take the place
Of the minister of the gospel. 81 am glad
on this day which more than Memorial
Day of Fourth of July stands for friend
ship and fellowship, two of the grandest
words in the language, and most appro-
priately applied to those who fought to-
yether for the country's welfare. ] used
TO think when, as boy, | heard old sol.
Tiers tell of the battles, Poor fellows
Now / think you the grandest specimens
If men in our country As | have lis ,,
tened today | have thought it well that
we should hear from those Of all occupa-
ions from the governor to the children.
hope some time again to meet such
grand body of veterans as are here !
;oday"
Miss Florence E. Follett next presented
The Minister'S Black Mare, in manner !
which so pleased her audience that she
vas obliged, after repeated encores, to !
ecite The Widow Green. Col. II. Il. |
Taylor of Brattleboro, claimed that he |
vas responsible for the fine weather since l
It the post office they received weather
eports from both ways and that he had
lotifed the senders of these reports that |
le should decline to receive more unless
he weather for August 26 was favorable. I
lie believed that the hardship and dan V
er the veterans had endured together had L
emented their friendship and that the
and clasp and GLOW are you, old man."
rev more hearty as the years passed on. V
)ol. Taylor then presented the following '
esolut1on. which was adopted, ere
olyed, That the Windham County Vet
rams Association urge upon the next
1eeting of the Grand Army Encampment
he appointment of Col. Alvin Franklin 8
s department commander, believing that 7
is record as a soldier warrants such ac- 7
ion." I
Miss Esther Dale next won hearty ap- |;
lause by singing The Blue Bells of y
cotland.
Col. Kittredge Haskins of Brattleboro
'as next introduced and said that had
ol. Franklin permitted he would have IA
cen content to, remain silent and to It
ouch elbows and look into the faces of d
% at least who fought from 81 to '65, II
,r the, flag, and the country and pre- p
srved that flag without stripe or a star tt
'st. He then said in part: "Today your al
ountry is at peace with the world No CO
anger threatens at home or abroad but, W
lould need arise, some of you old vet W
rams would enlist again. You fought di
n four years, and your reward is in the ca
we and respect of all good citizens. AS D
measure Of peace this country should 81
= prepared to meet any nation on sea m
; land. She should preserve and main Y
lin navy large enough to protect her q
terests at home and abroad and an NJ
my to repel any invading foe. The tn
niger now lies in the indifference of our ri
items. One may render just as effective al
rvice in peace as in war This is no ell