Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-27
Seventh Formal Visit of the
Army of the Union to
the Capital.
MEET HERE TO CELEBRATE
HALF CENTURY OF PEACE
Commander-in- Chief Palmer, Accom-
panied by 800 Veterans, Arrives
by Special Train.

Commander in Chief Palmer
and his staff of national officers
are here. More than 1900 vet
Grams are here. Washington, the
home city OF the nation, has for
the seventh time opened her arms
wide in welcome to the brave
Boys in Blue" Camp Matthew
G. Emery has been formally
turned over to the uses OF the
semi centennial celebration OF
peace. The Forty-ninth National
Encampment of the G. A. r.
is on.
Lieut.. Col. David J. Palmer
reached Washington early this
afternoon on his Red, White and
Blue special. made up in three
sections, bringing about 800
veterans from western states to
the reunion. He expressed graft
fication at the elaborate prepara-
tions made in careful detail for
the convenience OF the old soldiers.
He is confident that this historic
celebration will be the best at
tended since the monster assem-
blage here in 1892.
Back to the city they saved
from invasion-back to the seat OF
government they braved danger
to maintain-back home" have
come from all points OF the COM
pass and from all distances the
time-thinned army in blue, which
grows dearer to the people of the
United States as its numbers
dwindle at the rate of nearly
$4,000 each year. Back they have
come to what is most truly the
soldiers monument-the Nation S
Capital.
Col. Palmer Arrives.
Col Palmer's special train reached
Washington. several hours late, a. ZIG
this afternoon. On the train were 900
Grand Army visitors from Commander
Palmer's home state. Iowa, with others
following on two other sections of the
red, white and blue special.
~ Iy..tt us.1 ~, fr m,
Washington, Iowa. are Mrs. Palmer,
Dir. and Mrs. Ralph Livingston, Mrs.
Nora Bryson and Mrs. Cora Bell Will
son.
Col. Palmer as he stepped from the
train was greeted by number OF
Iowans, who cheered Justify. He pro-
ceeded at once to the headquarters in
the Raleigh Hotel for a conference
with the executive national officers.
Visitors Arriving Hourly.
All OF today incoming special trains
added their hundreds and hundreds of
old soldiers, with aging frames, to the
hundreds of their battle comrades who
arrived yesterday. The proudly worn
uniform. the black felt hat with its
gold cord the 6. A. Il. badge and the
OF course, there are hundreds of others
wearing bright badges energetic
women and younger men of active and
stalwart form, who display the insig
Mas of varied other patriotic orders
arriving at the same time for their
respective encampments and ANNUAL
conventions: but all these are of second
importance. in the public view, to the
old soldier boys" of '61-'65.
With fifteen large grandstands and
about 100000 worth of flags Washing
ton is all dressed up to receive her hon
ored visitors. Her war wounds, suffer
ed at Fort Stevens when southern in
vasion stabbed at the very heart of the
Union. are all healed. There is no
longer any soreness in her heart, for
today she greets brothers both those
who wore the blue in her defense and
those who wore the gray in the cause
they then believed to be right.
Today. after half century of peace
they are meeting here as brothers
ethrill with equal love for the same old
Stars and Stripes-but a flag that
boasts thirteen new stars. and each
one of these thirteen new states is as
war days of its old soldiers. and each
one of them is sending a delegation to
this jubilee encampInent
Sons Honor Sires.
The youth of Washington. those now
of the same age as were the Boys in
Blue" when they slung a drum strap
over their neck or shOuldered a musket
are paying honor and respect in a mos,
practical way to the old soldier guests
the honor of service. One thousand
Boy Scouts and several hundred High
School Cadets are al the Union station
at Camp Emery and detailed to ali
headquarters. assisting in every way
possible TO bake the veterans conlforta.
BILE and to help them to find their old
comrades in arms. many of whom have
not met for fifty years.
The entire city is en- fete, public
buildings. mercantile establishments
and private houses are generousI,
decorated by day and illuminated q,
night as an expression OF welcome and
honor to the nations heroes who have
come home" again.
President Wilson @il receive at the
White House at G:30 PM. Commander
in-Chief David J. Palmer and the ma
lionat STAFF officers.
First. in the spring of 81, when, born
of Misunderstanding and high strung
devotion to an Institution, the south
tcontinued on Fifth Page)