The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-08
blue and GRAY
AT GETTYSBURG
G. A. R. LEADER PROPOSES TO U.
c. v. PEACE MEETING ON SCENE
OF GREAT BATTLE.


ing letter from Ii. M. Trimble, COM
mander-in-chief of the Grand Army
OF the Republic to Gen. c. Irvine
Walker, cOmmander-in-chief of the
United Confederate Veterans. invit-
tiOn to participate in the semi-cen-
tennial celebration of the battle of
ing members of the latter organiza-
Gettysburg. was read at today's ses-
sion of the L. {. ". which is holding
its annual reunion in this city:
Memorial Hall. Chicago.
March 1. 1912.
Lieut.. Gen. c. Irvine Walker,
Commander in Chief, United Con-
fcdcratc Veterans, Charleston. S. c..
Dear General have read your
general orders No. 3 with very great
pleasure From 1t learn that you
are fully advised of the action taken
by the State of PENNSYLVANIA, and
the plans already we'll under way for
the celebration of the tiftieth ami
versary OF the battle OF Gettysburg
on July |, =, ) and 1. 1913. and that
you also know that the commission,
created by that State has requested
all surviving soldiers of the civil
war, north and south, to participate
therein as officially invited guests. to
be provided with seats In body at
all official functions during the cele-
bration, under the joint direction OF
the cOmmander-in-chief of the Grand
Army Of the Republic and United
Confederate Veterans, subject, OF
course, TO the approval of the COM
mission.
IF this event might mark the final
and complete reconciliation between
those of the opposing armies Of fifty
years ago, and the permanent estab-
lishmcnt of harmonious and fratcrnal
relations between the north and the
south, it would certainly gladden. the
hearts of all our cOuntrymen.
"To that end. vOicing, as he be-
licvcs, the common sentiment of his
comrades, and speaking for them in
that behalf, the commander-in-chicf'
of the Grand Army of the Republic
extends to you and your comrades
of the United Confederate Veterans
most cordial greetings, and sincere
ly requests that you and your com
radcs. in numbers as great as pos
sible, join with the Veterans Of the
Grand Army of the Republic in the
celebration of the scmi-centcnnlal
anniversary of the battle of Gcttys-
burg
Let us assemble there. and meet
and greet each other hand to hand
and heart to heart in the spirit Of
true friendship and brotherhood born
out of love for the flag and devotion
to our common country. Thus will
all the wounds of our former strife
be healed, as they must some time
be, that this people, as united and
vital force, may effectively and
nightly solve the problems of our
nations destiny in world affairs and
human progress.
Let US assemble there, and in
augurate a great peace monument
under which shall be entOmbed for
ever any lingering prejudices and Bit
terness that may have survived the
ebbing tides of passion through half
a century of peace. to symbolic to
all our people and to the generations
yet to be, that even out of the dead
dust and ashes of war, under the
sunlight of our Christian civiliza-
ton, the fragrant flowers of peace
and amity may grow and bloom.
Let us assemble there, where SD
many comrades of the Blue and the
Gray found common sepulture Oh
that historic field made immortal in
the worlds memory by their unex-
celled heroism, and there in that sa-
cred presence mutually pledge to
each other our constant fealty TO a
reunited and indissoluble American
republic.
with this invitation goes the out
stretched hand of friendship which |
feel will surely be accepted in the
spirit in which it is extended.
Fraternally and sincerely yours.
II. VI. TRIMBLE.
Commander-in-Ch Chief Grand Army of
the Republic.