The Washington times., 1917-04-06
YOUTHFUL PATRIOT
TELLS OF HIS WORK
Edmund M. Sullivan, 16-Year-
Old Georgetown Boy, Writes
Story of Loyalty Pledges.

This is a story about the unselfish
patriotism of sixteen-year-old
school boy who aroused Georgetown
TO the highest pitch of enthusiasm it
has known since war with Germany
seemed imminent.
With - total OF sixteen hundred
signatures to The Times loyalty
pledges to his credit, Edmund NJ. Sui
livan, of the Hyde School, not only
.excels all rivals in individual effort
in this direction but he has organized
a company of pupils who drill and
march daily.
Here is Sullivan's story of patriotic
activity:
Born in this city sixteen years ago,
-1901-of stanch American parents,
and attending the public schools since
attained school age, naturally my
love for the Star-Spangled Banner
was an inheritance to me, and, like
other boys of our school, our atten-
tion has been more or less centered in
the stirring current events of the
times: In fact, it has been part of
our studies in our classrooms. One
day 1 bought an Evening Times and
I read the pledge of loyalty which
was published. The thought then oc-
CURED to me to interest my fellow
schoolmates, boys and girls alike, so
/ set forth upon my own initiative
to comply with the patriotic sugges-
tion offered through The Times to
obtain signatures to be presented to
our Chief Magistrate.
Active During Recess.
81 labored necessarily during the
school recess hours and at other
times, and as a result of MY labors I
got upward of 1,6OO boys, girls. men,
and women of various nationalities,
all of whom signed the pledge most
willingly.
ain going about obtaining these
signatures the patriotism of our
school was aroused to the extent that
thereafter the boys and girls, true to
the flag and country and in loyal sup
port of our beloved President, we
began to form in groups about the
school buildings. Some had little
flags, others had broom handles. Here
we Immediately organized an i'm
promptu brigade and gave it the
Marching Club. The custodian of the
Hyde School-my school-William A. |
Hickey, a veteran of the Cuban and
Philippine campaigns, took much in |
terest in US boys and girls. He assist |
ed us in our military formation. |
marched with us around the streets. |
When we began our numbers were |
small, but shortly after we began |
TO make "a noise other boys and |
girls Joined, some with drums, some |
with bugles, and others with flies, |
till soon we had the vicinity around |
our schools all aglow with patriotic
noises.
II must not forget to say that the
girls were just as eager to march as
we boys-in fact, more so. Some had
Red Cross flags made at home and car
ried them in our line.
''Mr. Hickey loaned us two large
American flags.
zone of these flags is carried spread
out with eight boys on either side.
and the other is carried by the girls
In the same manner.
Encouraged BY NdEhbor..
E "We march daily around the streets
about our schools and have received
much encouragement from the neigh
bors.
Last Monday, just as Congress was
assembling, as school let out for the
noon recess, all of the boys and girls
OF Hyde, Curtis, and Addison Schools
assembled in the main playground be-
tween Hyde and Curtis Schools, sur
rounded by our teachers with twenty
four beautiful silk classroom Amerf-
can flags, and to the strains of a cor
net played by Russell Hardy. we all
Joined in singing patriotic hymns, and
we recited the pledge of loyalty.
Miss z. n. Chase. the principal of
Curtis School, standing in the center
OF group of some several hundred
the little kindergarten tots
being held up in arms by some of the
larger boys and girls and by Miss
Moote and Miss Quinter, their
teachers.
Tt was beautiful sight, one long
to be remembered, and the solennity
Of the occasion caused many passers-
by to stop. remove their hats, and
stand at attention. Among them was
an Episcopal clergyman. I do not
know his name, but he officiates at
St Johns Church, just near our
schools. He was very profuse in his ,
commendation of the scene, and re
1T is a most inspiring
scene, the most beautiful I ever saw
In all my life, and in all my travels.
I must admit I never saw its equal
Schools all over the land should do
the same as you patriotic people here ,
are doing, and I must say much credit
should be given to the teachers of ,
these schools for such a beautiful ,
lesson Of patriotism
Officers of Marchers.
Our little band of marchers Is daily =
led by Charles Wise, John Hardy, {
Francis Garrett, Thomas Bowers, Ed {
ward Follin, William Reid, James :
and John Wise. These boys (
constitute the officers Of the march I
ers. Miss H. e. Lasier, principal of
Hyde School; Miss z. NJ. Chase, prin- ,
ripsl Of Curtis School, and Miss r, E.
Darnielle, principal Of Addison School,
have given us every encouragement !
IN our efforts to show our patriotism
N these days when every boy, girl, l
nan and woman in our loved land
should bow in respectful submission ]
10 the mandate of our Government a
through our Congress and President a
n whatever they deem best in assert !
ng the time -honored American prin- I
,iples Of liberty, justice and freedom, :
md in upholding the dignity of our G
lation's emblem, old Glory"
Respectfully.
EDMUND NJ. SULLIVAN,
Hyde School, 32ss " street y. w.
/