The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-06-18
Waldo County Veterans.

morrill,, June OiH' AuoA cN~y' 49,
lar t]av of meeting, was stormy. Friday
dawned bright and clear. but cold and
with an exceedingly high wind. yet des-
mite the unJune like atmosphere, all
roads seemed to lead to Morrill, that day.
Newburgh, Frankfort. Monroe, Swan
vile. Searsport, Belfast, Belmont. Lib
erty. MontvilIe, Unity, Knox and Waldo
were represented by Veterans and their
families, who arrived cold as regards the
flesh but warm as regards the heart.
Morrill, is small town, geographically
considered. but one thing speaks loudly
for it's patriotism in the past. In Morrill,
cemetery are forty graves, decorated by
the Red. White and Blue. Another thing
speaks loudly for it's present patriotic
shirt There are eleven resident veter-
ans in this little town. For many years
the Wal1o County Veteran association
has held its June meeting here, and the
Veterans. the Grange, and the citizens
generally, are always active and anxious
that the dav shall be red letter day for
the visiting veterans. 4
The morning meeting was called to or
der by President Crockett and the rec
ords of the last meeting were read and
adopted. Comrades Knowlton, Whitcomb
and Trask were appointed committee
on time and place for the next meeting.
Comrades Edwin Garcelon, 18th Maine,
and Frank w hitcomb, End Maine Cavalry.
were reported as having passed away
since the May meeting. After brief
remarks by President Crockett and
Comrades Trask and Bowen, adjourned
for dinner. and an unlimited supply of
food, cigars and sociability made the
noon hour happy hour for all concerned.
At it's close DR.. T. N. Pearson's tour
ing car. was on duty to carry to and
from the Grange hall and church.
| The afternoon meeting was held as
usual in the church and as usual it was
filled. Two hundred were present at
this meeting. The school children, led
bv their teacher, marched in to music
and gave short Flag exercise and song.
PRAYER was then offered by Gilman Rob-
erts of Waldo. The committee on time
and place reported that the next meeting
is to be held at Whites Corner, Winter
port, July End. At the call of the Presi-
dent At veterans responded. The adj
dress of welcome was then given by Mrs.
Annie Simmons, as follows:
Mr.. President, Veterans and members
of Waldo County Veteran Association;
Ladies and Gentlemen: To me has been
assigned the pleasant duty Of extending
to YOU. in behalf of Honesty Grange
and the citizens of Morrill,, a cordial well
come. Whenever 1 look into the faces
of Veterans, feel a deep sense of re-
spect and gratitude for their sacrifices
| in facing hardship and danger that this
Union might be preserved. The present
trouble with our Mexican neighbors
brings to me the thought that some
of our sons may go forth in our coun-
trv's defense. / know what it means to
me to say goodby to my boys when they
90 to an adjoining State to engage in
peaceful labor, and how anxiously await
the news of their safe arrival. To the
soldier his arrival means nearer to dan
ger, not only in battle but in change OF
Of climate, food, impure water, malaria
and exposure to contagious disease; and
I think of your mothers and their con-
slant anxiety and dread of the terrible
news that might be brought any day OF
hour to their nome, and it seems to me
thew never received half the appreciation
and sympathy that was their Just due.
We look forward to these yearly meet
inps with us as a part Of our reward fol
the cares and frictions Of life, and your
presence with US if but for day, is
an inspiration to US, to love our country,
and its flag, and try to teach our children
some of the sacrifices that have been
been made in the past that our country
might be what it is, and honored of all
nations: and the duty will soon be theirs
to help rule and direct the affairs OF
State.
The present generation is brought face
to face with a united effort on the part
of the Daughters of the Confederacy tc
engraft on our Flag part of that EN-
blera of treason, the flag of what they
are pleased to call the late Southern
Confederacy." In the great war OF the
Rebellion you took the Flag out with
thirty-four stars on its blue field and you
brought it back with every star right
there and new ones added; you wrested
It from reasonable hands and passed il
back with every Stripe right where it be-
longs and the present and future genera
lions must see to it that it remains I'M
sullied by any emblem of treason. The
Union soldiers were never dismayed by
anv emblem of treason, or feared to
meet the men who were trying to de-
stroy the best government that was ever
established; but through victory and de-
feat there was stern determination te
preserve the Union and remove the blot
of slavery.
Whenever slavery is mentioned we re-
member the immortal Lincoln, that grea'
lover of Freedom, the believer in the
common people, whose nerve he was ane
part and parcel of that whole great BODY
No man ever lived who was so near the
common people as he, and yet he was
one of the greatest of the great. LII nj:
first inaugural address is revealed hi
greatness. his magnanimity of character
the measure of his charity. Though
passion may haye strained, it must no
break our bonds of affection. The mys
tic chords of memory stretching from
every battlefield and patriots grave t.
every living heart and hearthstone, al
over this broad land, will yet swell the
chorus of the Union when again touched
~, ,,,roIy +hou will he nv the hettel