The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-19
VERMONT GAR.
LOST 199 MEN
Total Membership Reported
at Montpelier To-day
to Be 1,526
NEARLY ALL POSTS
ARE REPRESENTED
Departm 81 Conn andep
Stree s Gave His An
$ al Address

With S iy l50 delegates present, rep
resent 5 factically all of the s5 Grand
Army : ts in the state, the 50th de-
partment cncampment opened at 10
| o'clock this forenoon IN the hall Of Brook
| post, G. A. r., Montpelier. Commander
| II. z. Streeter Of Brattleboro presiding.
The address of Commander Streete-
and the reports of the other department
officers occupied all of the forenoon ses
sion and the election Of officers viii not
be held until late this afternoon
In his address Commander Streeter
paid tribute to the Woman's Relief CORPS.
calling attention to the loyalty and en-
thusiasm displayed by this band OF no
Bile women" Referring to the Sone Of
Veterans, he said, standing side by side
IN interest and sympathy with the Grand
Army is this organization of the Sons of
Veterans. This order is, or should be,
nearer to us than any other. We are to
hand down and entrust to them our heri-
tage of honor and glory obtained upon
hundreds of battlefields and made sacred
by the blood of the slain. This organ
ization, comrades, is worthy Of your aid
and encouragement. It's motives are be-
yond reproach, its principles are the
loftiest, and its teachings sow the seeds
of true and patriotic American citizen
ship which shall bear fruit in the future
integrity of our great nation and the
home and glory Of the flag from which
your blood washed the stain of treason"
The commander also referred to the
Ladies of the G. A. r. and to Memorial
day.
In regard to the Soldiers home, he
said; Il believe voice the sentiment Of
every comrade in this department, that
you feel proud OF the Soldiers home at
Bennington--a fitting home for any of
our comrades who may be unfortunate
in not having home of their own. The
home has been unfortunate in losing its
superintendent and matron the past year,
Col. Harmon and wife, on account Of
their health. They have been very eff
cient for many years. The home is for
tunate, on the other hand, in securing
Comrade Martin and wife as superin-
tendent and matron, and we venture to
assert that the enyiable reputation the
home has enjoyed will be sustained"
In conclusion, he said: 81 desire in this
to express my high appreeia
tion of the devoted service of Comrade
II. p. Hunter, assistant adjutant and
quartermaster general. He has been a
very capable officer and deserves high
! wish to express my ap-
probation of the courtesy and assistance
of all the other officers of the depart
ment, also to members of my personal
staff. Deeply conscious of the imperfec
tions of my administration of the office,
which you so generously entrusted to my
keeping a year ago, / now cheerfully
pass it over to my successor"
The report of the department chaplain,
L. w. Bush of Brookline, showed that
there are So posts in the department,
hat 76 observed Memorial day services,
40 cemeteries were decorated, l0,395
graves were decorated and that 81 graves
ire still unmarked by headstones.
The report of the assistant adjutant
general, H. P Hunter, showed the total
of the encampment to be
,725 on Jan. L. 1915, and the member
hip six months later, June 80, 1916. to
,e l,59S. Death during that period of
tx months removed % members. In the
lext six months death removed so more
members, so that ON Dec. 81, 1916, the
otal number of posts in the state were
IS, with total membership of 1926,
iet loss during the year of 100.
The report of Assistant Quartermaster
General Hunter in regard to finances
hows a balance on hand of $l,456.34
nd supplies totaling S4l.74.