Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-11
MEMORIAL TABLET DEDICATED
On Site of Fort Where Steninston Drove Of the British Invaders too Years Ago.


 the defenders where a hundred years ago they drove off the British, im- pressive exercises of commemoration and of dedication were carried out at noon Monday. It was the occasion of the gift by the Connecticut body of the United States Daughters of 1872 of meorial tablet to mark the place where the old fort stood. To Dr. James H. Weeks, president of the Stonington Historical society was com mitted the task. months ago. of To- eating the precise place where those temporary batteries that did such gal lane service in 1914 were thrown up. This place he found the Atwood Cos office had been erected upon, and here 1t was on Monday that the beautiful bronze tablet was unveiled. Little Miss Rosamond Spencer Holmes, the year old great-great- granddaughter of Coptain Jeremiah Holmes. pulled the ribbon that let fall the American flag from the face of the meorial tablet. The charing little girl stood up on a chair and smiled and did her part gracefully.
 Previous to this pretty incident in the programme, FYreman's Light In fantry band of Providence had played after marching down through the bor- ough following concert at the Park.
 The Old Battle Flag.
 In presiding over the exercises af- ter Rev. John O. Barrows, of Nor wich. formerly pastor of the Road church, Stonington, had offered the i'm vocation Dr. Weeks held up to the large assembly the most precious relic in the possession of the town. This was the battle-torn flag which waved over the fort and which at the dedi- cation yesterday was given a place of honor In front of the speakers. Dr. Weeks offered all a welcome to the w.Y~ -E- IA q to battle against common foe. He had heard for a long time what the men did at Stonington and he was rightly proud of it. But 1t was fitting that a body of women such as the U. s. Daughters of 1872 should be women of Stonington in 1914 prepare the bread and corn that the men in the fort might hold out until the bat tie was won. Over many a hot hearth that summer did mother or wife or sweetheart bend that the defenders The woman then, as always, were willing to bear their share of the bur den.
 Dr. Weeks said that the lesson to be gained from these exercises of eel ebration Is that the town and the state and humanity need our services. Be proud of our town and commonwealth. He recalled the days when Stonington sent fifty pounds of lead for the Battle of Lexington and how in the Civil war many man went out from the l town to uphold the honor of the flag and the union of the states. As cit l izens of this glorious country we should make a much closer study of the history of the great men of the past.
 Presented the Tablet.
 The children of the town sang with vim the ringing verses of Henry Rob inson Palmer's Flag of stonington and
 Hartford, president of the U. & Daughters of 1912 in Connecticut pre- | sented the tablet. The desire to per- petuate the memory of important | events in instinct in the human race | she said. It Is right and fitting fol us to gather here this summer morn 1 ing to place and to dedicate a simple memorial which will serve for many | generations yet to come as a remindel 1 of the heroism of the patriots who de- l tended the town against the British 2 hundred years ago today. This may l gathered, but it certainly is historic 1 and we love to dwell upon the scenes 1 enacted here so long ago. She wal 1 glad to see real daughters of 1S1. l present to connect the past with tht 1 present After Miss Holmes removed I placed 8 garland of evergreen apov' l the memorial.
 l Warden Cornelius B. Crandall ac, l cepted the tablet in fitting words ant l said that 1t would always be reveret
 and cared for by Stonington.
 Message from National President. Mrs. William Gerry Slade, presiden of the National United States Dauah
 ters of 1912 brought message of cor | dial appreciation from that body. Sh l praised the loyalty of the Daughter ! of Connecticut. So much against tn 1 war of 1912 had she been in the habi of hearing. that she desired to stanl as its defender I hear someone say 1 even Julia Ward Howe, that the wa 1 did not amount to much. But we wer not free from Great Britain even afte
 the battles of the Revolution. Sh l never regarded us as other than re
 bellious citizens. And in 1912, frs
 in Massachusetts, then in Connection
 this situation was solved, The Hart . ford cnryenticu Esa dianfznstng .fh