The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-05-11
GENERAL AYERS sPoNSoRiAL
STAFF
Headquarters Florida Division
United Confederate Veterans
Ocala, Fla. May 8, 1917.
General Order No. d

SCu0t az OtdCt wv =
Confederate Veterans of Florida
GREETING:
Comrades: 1t is with great pleasure
that the commanding general of the
Florida Division United Confederate
Veterans announces the names of the
ladies composing his sponsorial staff
at the general reunion to be held in
the city of Washington, D. c.. June
At, viz:
Mrs. D. H. Irvine, matron of honor.
Orange Lake.
Mrs. Clarence Camp, chaperone,
Ocala.
Miss Edna Aver. sponsor, Ocala.
Miss Velma Maura, maid of honor,
Pensacola.
Miss Caroline Harriss, maid of hon
or, Ocala.
More than. fifty years have inter-
vened since that fatal morn at Apo
mattox, when the sad requiem of the
Confederacy was mournfully heard;
its flag, torn and battle-scarred was
furled, and it's vivid and Illuminating
history was committed to it's surviv-
ing defenders to be told in song, an
ecdote and story, and repeated around
the camp fires at our annual reunions.
In those fifty years the strength
of their manhood has waned, but
with hair grown gray and eyes
grown dim, they can proudly recount
the achievements that made their
leadership and following the wonder
of the world.
In these thrilling "reminiscences
none occupy so bright page as those
whom we affectionately term the
Mothers of the Confederacy"
We remember with affection their
fidelity and devotion: we remember
as if it were but yesterday their pre-
sentation of Bibles, flags and bouquets
in order to stimulate our valor; we
remember how their prayers and
tears, like hallowed incense, followed
us on our fateful marches; likewise
we remember their offering of every
material thing that love could sug-
gest or ingenuity devise to tighten our
fatigues. forgetful of self, if only we
might have strength to do battle.
Their sublime sacrifices and I'M
daunted courage make us proud of
our race and lineage, so let each one
of us do his full part in the determi-
nation to help on in the fuIhllment of
the prophecy:
Their Southland shall ever shine,
Their fame shall reach from cline to
cline;
Their victory won. their royal line
Shall live in history"
We could have had peace in 1860
without resort to arms by tamely sur
rendering a constitutional right, but
to have done so we would not have
won the plaudits of our own or other
nations, and would have been wanting
in our own self-respect, and the mem
cries which cluster so brilliantly
around us, and are so precious to us
as a people, we would not now be Gel
ebrating
There is not an American patriot
who does not rejoice in the fact that
we settled our sectional dispute just
as we did, and selected to do as our
fathers had done before us.
Had we done otherwise there would
always have existed conflicts and irri-
tation, and the nation could never
have been welded together as we hap
PLY find it today.
We, therefore, thank the God of
battles that those bonds, because of
our resistance and courage, have be-
come welded together as otherwise
would have been impossible, and are
constantly growing stronger and give
promise never again to be broken
We meet at the nations capital at
a most exciting and interesting epoch
in its history. We shall find the city
aglow with patriotic ardor. The ma
tion's flag and the flag of the Confed-
eracy will float in unison, their folds
mingling one with the other, giving
forth sublime spectacle of the COM
plete reconciliation of the sections,
the firm cementing of the Union,
proclamation that the bloody chasm"
has been bridged, and now, henceforth
and forever, the nation is one and in
separable."
The commanding general feels it I'M
necessary to ask that his sponsorial
staff shall be paid respectful homage.
Their presence on these happy oc-
casions lend charm, grace and dignity
to these gatherings and their influence