The Republican journal., 1912-03-14
Waldo County Veterans
Hold Successful Meeting with Thomas H.
Marshall Post, Belfast, March 9TH.


Hold Successful Meeting with Thomas H
Marshall Post, Belfast, March 9TH.
association met Thursday, March 7th, with
Thomas H. Marshall Post of this city. The
meetings were held in Memorial hall, and sc
large was the attendance that the morning
business session was not held, and the time
was taken up with exchanging greetings and
renewing acquaintances. There were IS OF
the veterans present, and these with the local
Post. Circle, Sons of Veterans and Auxiliary,
with members of their families. filled the hall.
At noon bountiful dinner was served by the
ladies' of Thomas H. Marshall Circle, assisted
by the ladies of the Auxiliary, and about $50
were fed. Some of the tables were set four
times. The dinner was followed by the usual
smoke talk.
President E. L. Crockett of Frankfort called
the afternoon meeting to order, and after the
singing of America by the audience prayer
was offered by the chaplain, Rev. ]. Albert
Corey of Searsport. The report of the secre-
tary, Alfred Stinson of North Searsport, was
then read and accepted. Two comrades we're
reported as having died since the last meeting
Comrades Staples of Stockton Springs and
Henry Pickard of Belfast. An invitation was
extended by Comrade Stinson to have the next
meeting of the association in North Searsport,
on the first Thursday in April, and the invita-
ton was accepted. The address of welcome
was then given by Commander L. C. Putnam
of Thomas H. Marshall Post, who spoke as fol-
lows:
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Mr.. President, Comrades and friends: On
behalf of Thomas H. Marshall Post and the
Ladies' Circle, bid you welcome 1t was
twenty years ago last June that the Waldo
County Veteran Association had its birth. 1t
was believed, of course, that much good would
result from county organization of veterans.
but l think it was hardly expected that after
twenty years of uninterrupted success, these
meetings could be maintained from month to
month and from year to year with undated
interest. There have been many things which
have contributed to the continual interest and
success of the association; but Comrades, be-
lieve that the bond of comradeship which was
fashioned out of some of the experiences
which you shared in common in the camp, on
the long, weary marches with hunger and
burning thirst, the lonely vigis on the picket
line and the vidett post, and the worse than
death conditions in rebel prison pens, the car
mage, destruction and death on the battlefield,
and all other hardships and privations which
our cruel Civil War imposed, formed strong
link in the chain of reasons for the continued
success of this association, and for bringing you
together in these meetings. Much that is
of interest, much that is profitable and
entertaining, has come from them. A spirit
of patriotism has been quickened and
strengthened; the social relationships of our
people have been widened and enriched; the
routine and monotony of the days affairs have
been broken up, and much of the narrowness
and selfshness which would come to lives if
lived in greater isolation, has been broadened
and sweetened by coming into sympathetic
touch with other lives; and so, my comrades,
we have come together at this time for the
purpose of renewing the pleasant and profit
able relationships of these meetings and on
entering with joy and gladness into the exer-
else of this hour; for it is in the present only
that we live and must live but sometimes in
prospective we live in the future, and again in
retrospect we live in the past and SO, today,
while we are lifted up and made glad by the
things of the present, may we not for one
moment lift the curtain of the past, and in retro
spect glance backward over the years which
have passed since the first meeting. AS the
years since that meeting have fitted swiftly by
and we have seen our comrades who were dear
common enemy, we have been more and more
impressed with the brevity of life. As in every
battle of our service life we were called to
mourn the loss of some comrade, so in our
civil life our common enemy has been quietly
thinning our ranks, until the gap which he has
made since the first meeting twenty years ago
has become almost appalling;but, comrades, you
know the soldiers stern duty is to close up the
ranks and press ever forward, but duty calls US
to halt for moment to place a wreath upon
the bier and pay the last tribute to the sacred
memory of our dead. Comrades we should
not larry long in sadness, sorrowing over the
past, for life is too short, too full of meaning,
to be wasted in much weeping or repining. We
may linger to place the wreath and shed the
tear, but lifes battles are to be fought and
victories to be won, if we would continue to
be valiant soldiers. The duties of the present
are ever calling to US for action, and we must
rise up in our strength or go down in defeat,
for upon the strength and valor with which we
fight the battles of the present depends the
fruit and the joy of the victories which we
gain for the future. The present is ours. 1t
is all the time we have. Let US make the most
OF it, and do we not make much of our time,
Comrades, in coming to these meetings? Our
lives are made better and brighter, and We are
better fitted for taking up the duties of life by
the renewal of our comradeship, and the social
relations which these gatherings bring US, and
hope we may all live many years to come to
enjoy the benefits of Them and may Old Glory,
for which you offered up your lives all upon
the altar of our country, ever float as the
emblem of liberty over this broad land, which
your patriotism, valor and self sacrifice made
free. We extend to you the hand of comrade-
ship, and again bid you to hearty welcome.
THE RESPONSE
In rising to respond Comrade Stinson said
that he had been called upon at the last mo-
ment and would only take the time to thank
the G. A. R. of Belfast and ladies', in behalf of
the Waldo County Veterans, for their enter
tainment, and if he were to make any re-
marks they would simply be along the line of
Commander Putnam's. He said that twenty
years ago at Swan Lake they formed what has
proved to be one of the grandest associations
in the State; and further, that he had missed
less than dozen meetings in the whole twenty
years, and he hoped to live to meet with T. H.
Marshall Post many more times. In the course
of his remarks he paid glowing tribute to
Col. William H. Fogler. late of Belfast and
Rockland
President Crockett said of the Veteran Assoc
citation that in the twenty years Of its .xis-
tence not an unpleasant word had been heard
in its meetings, and there had been no dis
agreement whatever, but everything had been
most pleasant. He then turned the meeting
over to Thomas H. Marshall Post and Circle
for the program.
THE PROGRAM.
The program opened with the singing of