The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-06-26

since Mankato was placed upon the
map or even since Minnesota adorned
herself with the clothes of state
hood. II has been a triumphant
march forward but not without back.
sets, trials and tribulations. But tbs
said that were II not for the adver-
stiles OF life. the hard knocks, we
could not develop the strength and
moral fiber TO stand up when reai
resistance is demanded. Our past
has not been one long sweet dream.
No, there were some mighty unpleas-
ant Nightmares which even today
cause those who witnessed and
went through them to shudder.
The Civil War.
The Civil war, which carried off
to battle for the nations life the
flower of the young manhood Of the
new state, indelibly recorded in
history through the organization and
accomplishments of the First Min
nesota boys, immortalized as the
bravest regiment in the service, and
who in that great battle at. Get
! tysburg were rushed into the very
| jaws OF death. at a critical moment.
In order to save five MINUTES of
time. The time was saved. but my.
at what cost. Every man realized
the significance of the order when
General Hancock gave the command
for the First Minnesota to charge
the enemy, but there was no falter-
ing, and of the 262 men who made
up that thin line of blue els were
i either dead or sweltering in their
own blood or the blood of their
comrades, only forty-seven escaping
uninjured. II was a day of triumph
for the nation, and we of today
are proud that we can still have
with us a few survivors OF that
memorable struggle. We love. honor
and respect every defender of the
stars and stripes, whether they be-
longed to the First Minnesota or
not, for IL there is any man de-
serving of our praise and our graft
/ tude II Is the man who wears the
little bronze button. His form may
be bent, his face wrinkled and his
hair as white as the driven snow,
but we know that under his coat
beats heart filed with patriotism
and love of country.
But let me digress here just
moment to leave a little message.
Last Sunday evening you had in
this city a flag day service where
tribute was paid TO the flag of our
country. Truly
There are many flags in many
lands.
There are flags Of every hue:
But there is no flag, however
grand,
Like our own red, white, and blue
The Flag Presentation.
"Fifty.three years ago there was
a flag presentation TO the First Min.
nesota regiment to which have
referred. Just before they left for
the southland the ladies OF st. Paul
gave them a silken banner and In
handing II to Colonel German, Mrs.
Ramsey, wife of Minnesota's first
governor expressed a thought that
indicates duty to those of us who
survive that grand army which IL
now passing into history. Said she
to them: 1t will be your peroga-
tive, wherever duty calls you, to
defend this flag. the nation, and the
principles forever intertwined with
both. II will be ours, standing at
the portals of your homes to cheer
you on your way with smiles and
blessings, to pray for you in the
dark hour of conflict; and, II need
be, to keep bright and undying
among men the memory of those
among men. the memory OF those
itself for God and Fatherland
Here Is promise that, In our
wild rush for wealth and power,
Is being forgotten. This pledge Is
a sacred one and duty and patri-
otism demands it's fullfllment. In
every community permanent memoir
ial associations should be organized
| for the perpetuation and observation
OF memorial day. The old veterans
themselves, who In the past have
fulfilled the pledge and promise OF
Mrs. Ramsey, are now walking with
faltering steps and are unable longer
to carry the burden. With palsied
hands and whitened heads they, and
the old pioneers are hating near
the brink OF eternity, saddened by
the thought that perhaps they and
their comrades will soon be forgot
ten. There are some grounds for
their fears when we note, In
neighboring village, In neighbor.
[, ing county, where memorial day has
been observed every year from the
day of It's establishment 1t was
overlooked this year because the
few remaining old veterans In the
community were unable to take the
initiative. AS the First Minnesotans
accepted the stars and stripes for
their emblem and unsheathed their
swords for It's defense, II Is our
province and our duty to step out
into the light and assume the trust
that has been left to our care and
keeping. not only fulfill the pledge
and promise OF Mrs. Ramsey but