The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-06-23
Flag Day.

Stickney of Rutland, was read DeIOre
the G.. A. r. and W. R. C. Of that city
on Flag day" June IA:
1t may be truly said that New
Englanders are by Inheritance ana
training highly susceptible to emo
tons of patriotism. With a great
grandfather in the French and lndi-
an war, a great grandfather and
grandfather in the Revolutionary
War, a brother who was one of the
boys who never returned from the
Civil War, and father, who. from
the very infancy of the anti-slavery
movement to the last of his nearly
ninety years, was an intense advo-
cate and supporter of all that our
glorious Stars and Strips symbolic
what wonder that l never see the
banner, especially on an occasion
that commentaries or honors an
event of national Importance and
when a body of the defenders of The
Union are present, without deepes.
feelings of patriotism!
stood one day with reverent feet
and unified heart in the little mouse
in Philadelphia where the first United
States flag in its present form was
made. The room, with its earthen-
tiled fireplace and quaint windows, Is
the same as when it was hallowed by
the presence of Washington and his
companions as they conferred with
the modest Quaker woman Betsy
Ross. who stitched into the folds OF
that banner loyal, and perchance pro-
phetc, thoughts of the great future
destiny of our country, and I Won
dered if from the battlements of heav-
en- she and all the noble ones of that
time and all succeeding things who
have planted and nurtured the seeds
of patriotism that have borne such
with the quickened vision of immoc-
tality, to see the countless flags that
wave, particularly on national holt
days, all over this broad country OF
ours, it's foreign possessions. and
wherever it's navy sails the seas.
Journeying by trolley through a
portion of Troy, N. Y, this morning,
l saw Old Glory floating on the breeze
from many private residences, stores
and other public buildings. On the
steps of tenement house one of a
group of children are proudly wav-
ing a small flag, an interesting evil
'1ence that his education in patriot
ism had not been neglected Many
other cities along the homeward
route, notably Saratoga, were in
like manner observing the day. 1t
brought to memory the National G..
A. r. Encampment held in that city
which it was my happy privilege TO
attend, when that beautiful city was
ablaze with national colors, an occa-
sion when one, while beholding the
long extended columns of that ga
liant remnant of mighty host
marching with marvellous courage
through the drenching rain to the
strains of patriotic music, thus COM
memorating the terrible conflicts of
1S61-5. could well imagine how
many times during those eventful
years these men fully appreciated
the emotions that thrilled the heart
of Francis Scott Key, when, after
twenty-four hours of intensely an
xious watching the bombardment OF
Fort McHenry in 1914, the thick vap-
ors of the early morning lifted and
| he and his companions, who were
temporary prisoners in a boat in the
| harbor, saw with exceeding joy that
"the flag was still there" 1t was the
! inspiration of that supreme moment
that gave birth to our great national
song, THE Star Spangled Banner
That the land of the free and the
to appropriately honor the memory OF
the gifted poet Key whose song has
given him undying lane ana has in
cited unnumbered followers of the
flag to noble deeds of daring, Is
shown that over his grave at Fred
erick, Md, the flag has always Vav-
ed, being on each Memorial Day rev
erently renewed
AS the years come and go, bring,
ing summer, which garlands the
earth, with wealth of foliage ant
beauty of blossom. may the signtfi
canoe of Flag Day and the value o.
annually celebrating it, sink deeper
into the hearts of all who are pro
tected by the institutions and princi
pies of which the flag is emblemati
cal.
0 you who wear today the nobl,
sign,
The badge of the Grand Army trie;
and true,
Reminder of cue days you stood il
line,
Wearing with honest pride you
garb of blue
This tribute to the banner OF tn
free
| bring in spirit of humility.