The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1918-09-24
THE WAR
SAVINGS FLAG
Raised to the Top of the Pole
and Accepted With Due
Solemnity
AND ELOQUENT ORATORY

was presented with appropriate and
impressive ceremony late Saturday
afternoon when the Court House
contained a large audience of people
from all parts of the county who
had made possible the fact that
their beloved county had led the
entire state in going over the top
After the ceremony in the court
house the flag was run up to the tor
Of flag pole in the yard while the
choir sang the Star Spangled Ban
ner.
Chairman T. F. Pettus under
whose magnificent leadership the
hosts were marshaled during the
campaign presided at the meeting
and introduced the speakers.
He opened the meeting by saying
that the program for the exercises
would be held according to the one
laid down by State headquarters
that it was known that Wilson coun.
ty held the leadership some time
ago, but Wilson county was waiting
for the other counties to catch up.
After fervent prayer by Rev. J.
M. Kester, the opening <,ng, Amer
ica, was sung by chair under the
leadership Of Mr.. H. D. Brown. Mr..
Pettus then introduced Mr.. O. P,
Dickinson who eloquently presented
the flag to the city and the county.
Mr.. Pettus spoke of the fine spir-
it manifested by the people in the
various townships and the interest
shown in the work of the war say.
ings campaign. He told them il
was our duty to live up to and re-
deem the pledges made to pay for
the war savings stamps already sub.
scribed.
Every county in the state which
has raised its quota of War Savings
Stamps is today raising their flags
He paid high compliment to the
eloQuence of Mr.. Dickinson who
spoke in part as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, ladies and gentle.
men I only wish l could rise to the
high plane upon which Mr.. Pettus
mas elevated me as speaker, but
do not possess the power of elo
quence sufficient to move the souls
OF men which the occasion deserv
es."
He referred to the wonderful
meaning of the stars and stripes and
The inspiration that stirred the blood
when ever it was not respected. The
men of America are dying for it in
France. But this flag today is moi
the United States flag, it is ser.
vice flag, an illustration of the splen.
jdid efforts that you have put forth
in helping to win the war.
Mr.. Dickinson referred to the
meaning Of the various symbols on
flags from the beginning of creation
These symbols represented the ideals
of the clans and the nations who
adopted them. So our flags must
represent some great cause or some
noble ideal.
I recall how sacred our feelings
are towards the Confederate flag.
We are proud of the fact that our
flag has never known defeat and
over in France thousands of our
brave boys are laying down their
lives for our flag.
This flag has been given us by our
government as mark of distinc.
tion for serving our government and
a recognition of your fine work and
Mr.. Pettus, the leader of the organ
ization. 1t is also a tribute to every
township and to the people of the
entire county. It represents not on
ly a splendid effort in the past but
also greater effort in the future for
our victory is not yet complete. How
much may we rejoice when we can
send the good news to Raleigh and
to Washington that all of our pledg-
es have been redeemed.
The man who can and fails to
meet that promise is Stacker, Mr..
Dickinson said.
The speaker stated this is an age
OF service to onr country and to
mankind. Our boys are teaching ua
something of sacrifice. We know
something Of the comforts Of home
but they have said good bye to moth
lcontinued on page Four)
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