The National tribune., 1909-09-16
THE ARMY AND
NAVY UNION.
The Biennial National Encamp-
ment Meets at Erie, Pa.

More than 200 delegates attended the
opening session OF the l4th Biennial
Encampment of the Army and Navy
Union, U. S. A, in the assembly room
of the Chamber of Commerce, Erie
Pa, Wednesday forenoon. Sept. g.
There were grim and gray veterans
who blaZed the way with Sherman to
the sea or followed the indomitable
Grant to the setting of the Ccnfeder-
acy's sun at Appomattox among the
delegates. There was one aged fighting
man who was at the storming of the
nights of Chapultepec. Mexico. with
stern old Winfield Scott. Young fell
lows who braved the pitiless sun of the
tropics as well as Spanish shot and
shell when they charged up the slopes
of Santiago's hills; ruddy-faced lads
who are to-day wearing Uncle Sans
blue or khaki in the Regular Army or
Navy; sons of Union soldiers and sons
| of Confederate veterans, who have
served under the red, white and blue
banner of the Union, all were in the
assemblage, and all Joined in singing
THE Star Spangled Banner" at the
opening of the Encampment. Eligibili-
| ty for membership in the Army and
Navy Union is a good character and an
honorable discharge from the United
States Army or Navy in time of peace
or when grim war is on.
So it was that some of the delegates
represented Garrisons of the Order that
have been established at military posts
| or on board the peerless American bat
| tleships and cruisers. Others came
| from the States, but all were imbued
with soldier patriotism and love of
country.
| There were patriotic women present,
| too, members of the Auxiliary to the
Army and Navy Union. They were
present to conduct their Biennial Con-
tvention.
| Welcomed to Erie.
Mai. J. w. Wright represented the
Mayor of Erie, and made the welcom-
| ing address. National Commander j.
Edwin Brown, of the Army and Navy
| Union, made the response. He said
/ the union was an organization of sol
diers and sailors that will be perpetual.
In this 1t will be unlike the G. A. r.,
| the Union Veteran Legion and the
Spanish War Veterans, as those asso-
Citations will expire when their last
members die.
| The President of the Erie Chamber
of Commerce also extended a welcome
to the delegates. Commander William
! p. White, of the Z. S. S. Wolverine, ex-
planned that the trim little war vessel
had been ordered to Erie Harbor in
honor of the Army and Navy Union
| Encampment.
| Senator A. E. Sisson in his speech
said the assembling of the Encamp-
ment was opportune, since it was being
held at the time when the great victory
| of Commodore Perry on Lake Erie over
| the British was being celebrated by the
| citizens of Erie. He told how Perry
! built his small feet of vessels in Erie
| Harbor, and after the battle brought
his own ships and the captured ones
| back to the city.
address Chairman George r. Downs, of
the local committee of veterans an
nounced that the Army and Navy Union
would petition Congress to raise and
restore Perry's old ship. Niagara, as
| memento of the naval battle. The
speakers at the opening session. with
| the exception of Commander White,
were elected to honorary membership
in the organization. The naval officer
was made an active member.
Growth of the Order.
| National Commander Brownies an
nual report showed that the organiZa-
ton has made great strides in member
ship gains in the two years intervening
since the last Encampment at Wash
| ington, ID. c. At the close of the meet
| ing the delegates and ladies were taken
on automobile rides about Erie.
! A telegram of greetings was sent to
President Taft at Beverly, Mass, and a
response received praising the Army
and Navy Union and its objects. An
other telegram was sent to the En-
campment of the Union Veteran Legion,
then in session at Washington, d. C.
A Great Reunion Planned.
One of the important matters pre-
sented at Thursdays session was a reso-
luton offered by the delegation from
IL
a great Reunion at Washington of all
veterans who have participated in any
wars or campaigns, including the Grand
Army of the Republic, Spanish War
Veterans and kindred societies. The
tentative time set for the proposed
great gathering of American fighting
men is the Fan of 1911 or 1912. 1t was
said to be the aim to make the event
second in Importance only to the Grand
Review of Union troops in Washington
| in 1865.
| It was also proposed that the Ma
tional body of the Army and Navy
Union shall make a substantial contri-
button to fund for monument to
Capt. Gridley. who served with Admiral
Dewey at the battle of Manila Bay in
1898.
| A resolution was presented claiming
that former American soldiers, sailors
and marines should be given preference
lover ClNltidHS III lnt Ol SONtFH-
ment appointments, all other things be-
| ing equal.
| At a banquet rendered the delegates
the speakers included Gen. Andrew S.
Burt, u. S. Army, retired, and a candi-
date for National Commander; Col. B.
| F. Chase and Capt. J. Z. B. Stuart. of
Virginia, q son of Gen. Jeb Stuart. the
| Confederate cavalry leader, who was an
officer of Virginia troops in the War
with Spain.
| Resolutions.
| By unanimous vote the Encampment
| indorsed the proposition for an appro-
priation by Congress for the erection at
Washington, d. c., of q commodious
| building for use of the management of
| the Soldiers and Sailors Temporary
Home.
| The decision was reached to petition
| Congress for the erection at Erie, Pa.
of a suitable monument in honor of the
/, late Capt. Gridley, u. S. N. of Admiral
Dewey's flagship Olympia, at the battle
of Manila Bay. 1t was to this officer
Dewey said at the opening of the fight:
IF you are ready, Gridley. you may
fire.
/ A resolution offered by William A.
Hickey, of the District of Columbia, eX-
tending the sympathy and coincidence
of the Army and Navy Union to the
| family of the late Gen. Henry Clark
Corbin. u. s. Army, was adopted by
unanimous vote.
On motion the National officers were