Evening star., 1909-06-15
ANACOSTIA CLAIMS THE HONOR
HELD FIRST PUBLIC FLAG RAIS-
ING IN THE DISTRICT.
Facts Told by Capt. Frisbie of John
A. Logan Post at Exercises
Held Last Night.

An inspiring memorial to the flag and
it's birth was held in the Baptist Church
In Anacostia last night under the aus
pices OF John A. Logan Post and John
A. Logan Woman's Relief Corps. The
church was filled. Capt Frisbie. COM
mander of John A. Logan Post for many
years, who presided, described the first
public flag raising in the District of CO.
lumbia, which. he said. took place In Ana
costa, Washington's birthday, 1891. when
John A. Logan Post presented a flag to
the Jefferson School. The Marine Band,
troops from Fort Myer, marines and
distinguished speakers were present.
This. he said, marked the first gleam of
the patriotic work in the District, which
has been carried on with vigor and an
inspiration which was producing a spien-
did interest In the flag and the country.
He insisted that to Anacostia was due
the credit of inspiring the work in the
first instance.
Rev. Willard G.. Davenport, pastor of
Emanuel Episcopal Church of Anacostia,
veteran of the civil war and chaplain
Of John A. Logan Post for seventeen
years. spoke of the dangerous Office OF
colorbearer in time of war. for upon the
flag the enemy usually centered its fire,
as that was the rallying point. He told
of what the flag cost in precious lives.
lives given in a war for principles. The
Church, declared with pride that in his
home city in Philadelphia the flag had its
birth and christening.
One of the picturesque features Of the
evening was the presentation of the COL
ors and the flag drill by the John A. Lo-
gan Girls Flag Brigade, Miss Annie But
Ter captain. The /. w B. Flag Association
and the colorbearers of John A. Logan
Corps acted as color escort. all dressed In
white and carrying large flags. The
march was played by Master Henry
Moulton Goundie, the drummer boy Of
the Flag Association, accompanied on the
piano by Miss Hayes. Master Goundfe
gave the flag salute on his drum, THE
Star Spangled Banner was sung, and
Mrs. Ball spoke of the significance Of the
flag and recited Your Flag and My
Flag"
Other Exercises Held Last Night.
Flag day exercises were held last night
at the Metropolitan Church, where an
ella bOrate program of music, recitations,
addresses and flag drills was given under
the auspices of the Women's Relief
Corps, Department of the Potomac. The
interior of the church was decorated with
flowers and flags.
Rabbi Simon delivered the principal ad-
dress. in which he declared that the
American flag was looked upon in Eu-
rope as an emblem of hope, especially in
Russia, Turkey and the Balkan States
On the platform were Mrs. Flora r..
Carnes, department Instructor: j. w.
Brown, Sons of Veterans: Rev j. ID.
who pronounced the invoca-
ton: Rev. John Reid Shannon. pastor of
the church, and Edgar Allen, commander
in-chief, Sons of Veterans.
]. W. Brown sang We Have Drunk
From the Same Canteen.' and recitations
We're delivered by Miss Edith Sage Emer-
son, Mrs. Flora E. Carries. Miss Edith
Pickering and Miss Belle Harris.
About 300 children attended the exer-
cises of G. II. Thomas Post. G. A. R., in
Keller Memorial Church. last night. The
church was crowded with veterans. mem
bers of the Women's Relief Corps and
children. Post Commander J. L. Lang
ham introduced w. T.. Andrews, auditor
for the Treasury, who made an address
in which he told the story of the flag
in simple language 10 the children. Col.
f. 4. Keeler. instructor of the post, told
of the flag during the civil war. Leyina
Dorsey. six years old. recited the Red,
White and Blue" and Miss Mabel Blanch-
ard followed with Our Flag" Mrs. Mary
Thatcher, instructor of the Women's Re-
lief Corps of Thomas Post. had charge
of the exercises.