Norwich bulletin., 1912-04-26
Patriotism Theme Al Sons Banquet
Enthusiastic Gathering of Sons of Veterans Wauregan House-Commander Fairbanks Postmaster to Major Butt and Other Titanic Heroes Concludes The Evening

other states following in close order and secession had become a gigantic revolution.
 Now the battle was on and here comes in "the Boys of 61" in response to President Lincolns call for 750O volunteers to defend the flag that had been so ruthlessly assailed in Charles ton harbor it must be restored and maintained unsullied and our country kept undivided.
 The spirit of 76 was every where throughout the north and the ancestral blood of Concord, Lexington and Bunk CT Hill was coursing throug the veins of the youth, not alone in New Eng land but through the middle and west ern states as well In our own state of Connecticut little in area but big in patriotism our quota of one regiment was speedily raised in four days and two more regiments stood ready to l answer the call. We were particularly l fortunate in having for chief eXecu- l tive of the state our much revered and honored war governor, William A. 1 Buckingham
 1 In January three months ahead of i the Presidents call for volunteers he | was making provisions for the equip ment of troops by drawing from lis 1 private funds to meet the expenses, l which proved a wise precaution. No 1 Governor stood higher in the estima- | tl0n of Lincoln and other officials at 1 Washington than did our noble war | Governor. Well did he fulfill his ob- legations and meet the needs of the | hour, certainly he was the leader of 1 the Boys of 61." The example set ny ! the volunteers of our army from 6l 1 to 65 was an object lesson to the world
 were as good soldiers as ever trod the earth, better than any European i soldiers because they not only work ed like a machine but the machine i thought. European armies know very l'lttle what they are fighting for and
 care less" our republican form of gov
 ernment no doubt has much 10 do with ! this shaping the action of it's people
 creating a spirit of patriotism, liberty
 righteousness and justice to guide itf
 ship of state and make it's destiny
 sure and steadfast The boys of 61
 grew into the ranks of s. g. 4 and . ! standing true to their task theil
 never wavering faith led them through
 four years of bloody warfare with al
 it's hardships discouragements and at.
 tendant horrors, the saddest featur,
 of which was with the loving moth
 CTS, widows, sisters and sweethearti
 left to mourn the loss of those wht
 never returned.
 But at last the dawn of peace cam,
 on April 9. 1885 at Appomatox Va.
 when General Lee surrended to Gen
 eral Grant and the war was practically
 ended. On May 18th the Adjt. Gen or
 dered grand review of Meads an,
 Sherman's armies at Washington l which occupied two days. the 23,
 and 24th after which they were pai,
 or and returned to their homes t
 take up their peaceful pursuits one
 more. All have proud record and al sections can well congratulate them I selves and each other for having don their full share in restoring the su premacy of law over every foot of ter
 rltory belonging to the United States
 Three Cheers for "BilI Dougal.D } Three cheers for Bill DougaT' wa the greeting given w. II. Dougal } New Preston, department commando of the Connecticut G. A. R.. who los his right arm at Fort Wagner. He foI 3 lowed Commander Hovey, respondin r to the toast Grand Army of the Re 7 pubic. He referred to Norwich name m the early regiments that enlistet Q Colonel Alfred P. Rockwell and Lieu 2 Colonel Ely, and some of the hC [ | lighting at Fort Wagner by the Sixt r Connecticut, Colonel John L. Chatfiel
 i whose achievements one writer ha | called the bravest deeds of the brave f He made the prediction for the Sor s of Veterans that they were going e be $50 better off at the end of his ter e of service than they were now, and ] d was greeted with resouoing applausef e The company stood and gave thrt e rOusing cheers for Department Con
 mander Dougal at the suggestion | Division Commander Fairbanks j. Another solo, When the Grand Arm . is on Parade, was given by Alr Tu r ner and vigorously appIauded.
 U Eloquent Address on Patriotism. - Patriotism was the toast to whiC - Rev. William A. Keefe of St. John e church of Plainfeld made an eIoquel e response, which drew round aft d round of applause at different poin 10 from his hearers.
 V The subject of American patriotisI
 said Rev. Father Keefe, is always mo interesting and inspiring. | consid
 1t an exceptional honor to address yO l. noble sons of America's veteran patr l. ots, on this subject tonight. Yo1 Is fathers were the very persOnificatiC d of practical patriotism. Your nam 70 are names of patriotic American h 1f roes; your blood is the blood of patr Otic American martyrs. Your ve y features are the likenesses Of Amer )r can patriots who, in the hour of tl "A (Continued on Paqe Ejaht.)