The National tribune., 1910-09-22
ADDRESS OF THE
COMMANDER
Continued from page one.)

vices were neIn III pui SSIOpis any
churches the Friday and Sunday pre-
cea:ng May 80.
business houses were closed, factories
and mills ceased to run, and. generally
speaking, the American people paid
tribute to the men who saved the Re-
public.
1t is true there were some excep-
tions, but, generally speaking, so far as
your Commander-in-Chi was able to
learn. there were less games of sport
and less defamation of the day than
formerly.
Let us insist and do all in our power
that Memorial Day shall be devoted
solely and only to the purpose Tor
which it was created Let it be the
one day of the year devoted to honoring
our "deathless dead" for in that way
we will teach the rising generation love
of country, without which our Nation
cannot long survive.
Flag Day.
In General Orders the observance of
Flag Day. June IA, was recommended.
The Governors of many of the States
Issued proclamations to the same effect.
Why not? Our people who enjoy all
the rights and privileges under the
flag which makes them free should
cheerfully do this.
Old soldiers should need no urging to
fling Old Glory to the breeze. 1t was
their constant companion from Bull
Run to AppomattoX. The G. A. r. of
all organizations believes the Flags
natal day should be celebrated. Let us
hope this custom will continue and in
time become universal.
Flag of thousand battles,
Beautiful flag of the free.
Waving from lake to ocean,
Waving from sea to sea-
Woman's Relief Corps.
cannot commend too highly this
organization. 1t exists for us and is
ever mindful of our interests. Mrs.
Jennie Iowa Berry, its President, while
at Salt Lake City last year promised me
the support of the w r. C. Right
royalty has she and the Relief Corps
kept their pledge. Let me assure Mrs.
Berry and the members of our splendid
Auxiliary that the G. A. r. bids you
Godspeed and the greatest measure of
success My first official act was to re-
ceive donation from this organization
of 1000 for our Permanent Fund. Be
sides this gift they have contributed to
the fund for the proper observance OF
Memorial Day in the South the sum of
s1,503.15, but the best service of these
patriotic women is not in their dona-
tionS of money, but in the care of our
sick and disc bled comrades. They not
only~strew flowers on the graves of our
departed comrades, but carry them to
the sick room, where they are recog-
nized as angels of mercy, for our COM
rades enjoy the sweet fragrance of
flowers now more than to have wreaths
and garlands placed on their graves
after they have passed away.
Perhaps the greatest service after all
that the Woman's Relief Corps gives
tand along this line / include the La
dies of the G. A. r. and the Daughters
of Veterans) is the patriotism resulting
from their efforts in intoxicating love of
country in the minds of the youth of
America. This work cannot be too
highly commended, nor can we. honor
too much these splendid women who
do so much for our order and our
comrades.
Ladies of the G. A. Il.
The Ladies of the G. A. r.. composed
of onT mothers. wives, sisters and
daughters, ever have our best interest
at heart. They labor zealously in sea-
son and out of season to aid us. and
we would be false to ourselves if we
did not fully appreciate their services
To Mrs. Della r. Henry, National Pres
ident of the Ladies of the G.. A. R.,
am under many obligations for assist
ance rendered during my term of office
She has ever been ready to lend a
helping hand.
This Order gave for our memorial
work in the South the sum of S254.67
during the year about TO end. Others
may. but these noble women can never
forget the fathers, husbands and BROTH
ers who suffered and sacrificed so much
from '61 to '65. / am sure everyone
present win join me in expressing the
wish that their Order may live long
and ever prosper.
Sons of Veterans
have on every proper occasion pre-
sented our greetings and met with the
Sons of Veterans. More than that, L
have urged them to persevere in the
good work they are doing.
This can be made a still grander Or
ganiZation. 1t is constantly increasing
in numbers and influence. The Sons of
Veterans with proper encouragement
should soon be the largest patriotic
body of men in the world That il
may is my earnest wish.
The need of the hour is patriotism.
and who better than our sons and their
descendants can keep these fires bright
ly burning? The Sons of Veterans
should have ali the encouragement pos
sibie from the G.. A. r. 1t is a matter
of great satisfaction that the Sons meet
with us this year. l trust our National
EnCampmentS may in the future be
held at the same time and in the same
place.
Daughters of Veterans
This organization is working alone
the same lines as the Sons of Veterans
They are ever mindful of their fathers
and are doing a grand work 1t is a
pleasure to report that at Salt Lake
City they presented us with a check
for $3.50, which was added to our Per.
manent Fund. They also contributed
the sum of $3.50 to the Southern Ne.
mortal Fund. We appreciate these
gifts very much. but more than these
we appreciate their love and affection
i look for spendid results in the future
from the combined efforts of our Son.
and Daughters.
The Blue and the Gray.
The civil war was inevitable Yot
are familiar with conditions immediate
ly preceding the great conflict. TIL,
time for argument had passed. Further
compromise was out of the question
our country was very much in the con
oition of England as described by
Cromwell: Things would have to gc
much worse before they would get any
better" They got worse, and at a RAPID
rate.
The firing on Sumter proclaimed t.
the world that the South had appealed
to the sword. The shot fired at tn,
beieaguered fort was heard in ever,
city, village and hamlet in the North
Her hardy sons with one acclaim de
clared that the Union must be Dre
served and every star retained on thu