Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1909-11-12

South Street where the children of the
living flag waved patriotic welcome.
Trembling with the emotion of the
occasion, the veterans would suddenly
sight the moving stripes Of human red,
white and blue, without exception they
were overcome by the scene The
cheers Of the men and the tears Of tho
women they could withstand but the
voices of the children singing America
proved too much for the vjctors of =
thousand fields. 1t was painful to SEQ
the old veterans give way before the
moving picture of the flag, as the
children in the order of oolors rose in
solid lines, in red or white or blue or
various combinations which made the
huge grand stand vibrate like an
electrical emblem of the nation. Tho
bands, inspired by the sight of the
living flag, would break into "The
Girl l Left Behind Me-" "The Star
Spangled Banner or "The Battle
Hymn of the Republic, and this would
prove the last straw The heroes who
had borne the brunt of amful war would
break down and the tears flow freely.
while they could only say, God bless
you and when the children in the liv-
Ing flag arose as one and recited I'm
unison the simple oath Of the g. A. r..
the veterans stopped and took off their
hats. Perhaps the younger generation
did not appreciate the significance OF
the beautiful and solemn words, but to
the old soldiers the simple sentences
sounded like bugle call II pledge
allegiance to my flag and to the Republic
for which 1t stands, one nation indivis-
able with liberty and justice for ALL"
the children recited. The crowds on
the sidewalk and in the grand stands
were overcome by the spectacle. Here
was no nook patriotism but real
living proof, three miles long, that men
had fought and died for the flag and
the Republic for which we stand. A.
most pathetic incident was when the
association of Civil War musicians
halted in front of the living flag and
played, John Browns Body Lies Mold
ering in the Grave" the crowd took up
the song and the chorus rolled up Main
Street until Thousands of voices echced,
"And his soul is marching on" That
was the message of the living flag and
when the children sang, "The Battle
Hymn of the Republic" the veterans
for three blocks stopped in their tracks
and sang. 1t was too much for the
crowd who tried to sing but their voices
we're chocked. Then the children
sang, "In the beauty of the lilies Christ
was born across the sea. AS he died to
make men holy let us die to make men
free" came back the voices OF the veter-
ans in mighty roar, "And his soul is
marching on" was the refaain. The
spirit of the Civil War was revived by
the living flag and the sweet throbbipR
voices of the children reached the
bottom Of each veterans heart. There
is nothing on earth today that can work
up to the bursting point such inspiring
patriotism as the National Encamp-
ment of fhe g. A. r. Let us keep it
up until old time compels us to turn
the good work over to the sons and
daughters Of veterans. And here l
wish to say, that added interest in the
aims and objects OF the G. A. r. and
w. Il. c. may be secured by the organ
lzation. wherever possible, of Camps
of the sons and Tents of the daughters
of veterans
There is but one camp of the Sons
of Veterans in this state. at Sioux Falls
amp no Tent of the Daughters of
veterans. The worthy work OF these
two organizations In other states re-.
ceive the highest praise.
For full information how to proceed
in the organization of a, Camp of the
Sons OF Veterans, write to Geo. w.
Turner, Commander Minnesota Di.
vision Sons of Veterans, Minneapolis,
Minnesota. To organize Tent of the
Daughters, write to Minnie I. Guittard,
324 w. Main St, Alliance, Ohio. or
Clara F. Hoover. 5O7 Lakeside Building.
Chicago, Illinois.
Daughters and sons of South Dakota
veterans, get together. organize and
show what you can do to perpetuate
Liberty, patriotism and human rights
for which your sires fought and to this
end say to my comrades Of the G., A.
H., give helping hand wherever
opportunity offers.
A. 8. STEWART.
Department Commander.