The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-14
Flag Day Fittingly Observed
Il by Patriotic Organizations
in Keokuk at This
Ceremony.
PLACE SLAB ON BOULDER
Rock is Located in Rand Park
Short Distance From the
Statue Where it Can
be Seen.

THE TABLET INSCRIPTION.
The following is the Inscription on
the tablet unveiled today:
ain memoriam U. S. S. Maine, de-
Btroyed in Havana harbor February
rs, 1898. This tablet is cast from
metai recovered from the ". S. S.
Maine.
"Presented to the city Of keokuse
juno IA, 1916 by keokuk chapter D.
"A. r."
Keokuk chapter, Daughters of the
American Revolution, very approprl-
xtely observed Flag day this after
noon by presenting to the city OF
Keokuk the Maine. memorial tablet.
commemorating the sinking of the
United States hattleship of that name
in the harbor of Havana February
rs, 1898, which made the breach be-
tween Spain and the United States
and resulted in the Spanish American
war and the United States taking
her rightful place in the first rank
of nations. It was fitting that the
exercises commemorative this event
should be observed on the one hun
-
the birth of the American flag.
Other patriotic orders were asked
to join the daughters in the observ-
ance Of the day, and the program was
planned for by joint committee
from Lexington chapter. Sons OF the
American Revolution and the Dau8h
tiers, the Spanish war veterans. AMI
members of the G. A. R. posts and
the general public participated IN the
exercises which were held at Ran
park, where the boulder on which the
Maine tablet has been placed. rests.
The tablet was presented to the city
nv Mrs. Jane Ewing Blood. vice re-
gent Of Keokuk chapter D. A. R., who
acted for Mrs. ]. F. Elder, the regent,
who is out of the city. The tablet
was accepted on behalf of the city
by Mayor Ed. S. Lotion. Talks were
made by w. G. Blood, representing
the George v. jenkins camp, U. s.
w. ", Capt A. H. Evans, past COM
mander, department Of Iowa, G. A. r..
and w. ]. Fulton, representing Lex
ington chapter, s. A. r.
Boulder OverIooks Historic Spot.
The Maine tablet is placed on a
boulder which is placed in the TRAN
gular strip of land on the west side
lust across the road from the cannon
which stands on the point from which
thousands admire the view of Lake
Cooper and the majestic hills rising
on each side. 1t was a most excel
lent choice OF location and will be
seen by every visitor who comes TO
f Keoktila, and makes pilgrimage 10
the park. The tablet is of bronze and
was obtained from the navy depart
ment by the d. A. r. Below this
Maine tablet is second tablet pear
ing the name of the donors and the
occasion of the gift. The boulder is
q short distance down the road from
the keokuk monument.
A bugle call and then martial
Elusic by Chris Lock with his famous
Old drum and j. McGrath, fifer who
came here from Quincy to assist Mr..
Lock, opened the program this after
noon. Prayer was offered by Dr.
Ezra B. Newcomb, past president OIL
the Iowa society of the Sons OF the
American Revolution. Mrs. d. A. Col
lier welcomed the assem- Dlage.
Unveils Tablet.
George jenkins Kiedaisch. son OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Karl kiedalsch then
pulled the ribbons which held huge
AdS LII PAHhSS 49,
of the boulder, and as the flag was
drawn aside the first glimpse OF the
big boulder was afforded.
The big boulder which weighs SIX
tons. was found by J. F. Elder who
reported to the chapter. The boulder
was the gift of T. l.. Grffey. Inc
Maine tablet is prominently displayed
on the face of the big rock and Is
sunk into the granite. Below is the
smaller tablet saying that the me
mortal slab is the gift of keokuk
chapter d. A r.
Arrangements for taking care OF
the people at the park this AFTERNOON
were excellent. The speakers plat
form was Mrs D. A. Golfers auto
mobile which was gaily decorated In
flags There were some sixty or more
benches arranged around the boulder
in a semi-circle and police ofncers
saw to it that automobiles came III
only one direction and then parked 1T
twos along the main thoroughfare.
The Flag Salute.
A feature of the program whicf
was a distinct surprise and beautl
full in it's simplicity was the fat
salute made by ten girls curing MRS
Golfers address of welcome. The
girls were selected by Miss Eiizabet1
Dunlap and were stationed near thE
boulder At the proper place IN MIS-
Golfers address one of the girls un
folded an American flag while thu
others Joined by the audience re
,peated the flag salute.
In welcoming the assemblage- Mrs
D. A. Collier, chairman of the prd
gram committee said:
"As patriotic citizens we meet to
day in two capacities, first, to homo