The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-15
Large Crowds Greeted
Flag Day Services
Here Yesterday
Patriotic Meetings Were Held
By The Texas Co. Shook
MIL And The Elks, To
Which The Public Was
Invited

The 141st anniversary of the birth
of the American flag was fttingly
celebrated in Morgan City yesterday.
Every place of business displayed at
least one flag. Many store exteriors
were decorated with all the flags Of
the Allies. Exercises celebrating the
meaning of the day were held at the
Texas Company Shook Mill and at
the Elks' Lodge. The general public
was invited to each of the meetings
and both programs were greeted by
large attendance.
The exercises at the Shook Mill
were held at the plant at noon. A
large portion of those attending were
from the many industrial plants To-
Gated in the same neighborhood Nor
gan City ladies, led Dy Mrs. F. NJ.
O'Brien, and the Morgan City band
supplied patriotic music for the oc-
casion. The flag, which has flown
for many days at the top of the water
tower, 100 feet in the air, was taken
down and a new flag was raised. Roy
Morton of the 10Th Infantry, Port
Arthur, Texas, officiated at the rails
ing. Mr.. Morton is the son of Mr.. R.
T. Morton, chief engineer of the
Texas Company Plant. AS the flag
was raised the "Star-Spangled Ban
ner" was sung. Then followed the
salute to the flag, the pledge of al
legiance and the Americans Creed,
the entire audience participating. Mr..
F. D. Winchester of the Bank of Nor
gan City made the Grafton of the
day. He outlined the history of the
flag, concluding with stirring es.
hortation to the large number of
workingmen to observe all conser-
walton measures and to support all
war activities that have for their aim
speedy and victorious conclusion
Of the war
In front of their hall a platform
was built for the Elks' exercises. 1t
and the exterior Of the building was
profusely decorated with flags and
bunting. All the flags Of the Allied
nations were displayed from the
front Of the platform. Music was
furnished by a choir, Mrs. F. NJ.
O'Brien, leader; the Morgan City
band, P. H. Ghirardi, director, and
patriotic songss in which the audience
joined. Introductory exercises and
altar service were rendered by Of
ficers of the lodge. "The Flag Record"
was read by Mr.. F. y. Winchester.
Tie Elks' tribute to the flag was
given by Mr.. J. P. Hebert. The
words of the tribute were beautiful
and brought great applause from the
audience.
Miss Eileen O'Brien gave 2 read
ing entitled, "My Flag" Miss O'Brien
spoke under the handicap of the noise
and confusion of the street, but those
who were able to hear her voice were
visibly touched by her fine rendition
of beautiful thought. The address
Of the evening was given by Mr.. Jas.
D. Thames of Vicksburg, Miss. He
opened his talk with an apology for
the condition of his voice, due, he ex-
planned, to the almost constant num-
Der of speeches recently made in be-
half of various war measures. How
ever, as he progressed, his voice grew
stronger and he was heard without
difficulty. His remarks held his au.
dience from start to finish, and when
he concluded great ovation was
given. He advocated anything and
everything that would tend to sup
port the government in the present
great undertaking in which it is en-
gagged. The flag, the anniversary of
whose birth the people of the land
are celebrating, will not remain un-
sullied, said Mr.. Thames, unless every
man, woman and child seeks his duty
and then straightway accomplishes
the same
Mr.. Thames and other participa-
tors in the program were guests of
honor at a dinner given after the
exercises at the Daisy Restaurant
mess building, suitable for an! kind of
retail business or store room. Inquire