Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-04-25
c. 7. S. PIERCE
AGAIN G. A. R. HEAD
Vermont Veterans in 51st An
nual Sessions Here Re.elect
Former Officers
OLD SOLDIERS BUSY DAY
Camp Fire In City Hail Mt Night Il
ln.Chief Orlando T.. somcrs

Sherwood hall Thursday afternoon the
Department of Vermont. Grand Army
of the Republic, reelected the present
staff of officers for another term.
The list is as follows: Commander,
c. T. S. Pierce of Vergennes; senior
vice-commander. John r. wilson of
Worcester; Junior vice-commander. l..
f.. Pierce of Springfield; department
chaplain, L. w. Bush of Brookline;
medical director, DR.. c. NJ. Ferrin of
Burlington.
Preceding the election there were
reports and various miscellaneous
business that was carried over from
the morning session.
THE ANNUAL REPORTS.
An abstract of the address Of the de-
partment commander c. T. 8. Pierce
Of Vergennes. was given in last weeks
Free Press.
John r. Wilson, senior vice-com-
mander, and f. E. Pierce, Junior vice.
commander. made brief reports. A. A.
Niles, patriotic instructor, In his re-
port, said that there is a growing
spirit of patriotism among the people
as whole. especially noticeable in
the schools and in the churches. More
patriotic sermons have been preached
by ministers during the past few
years than ever before, and patriotic
anniversaries are generally observed
in the schools"
In the report of III. T. Hunter, assistant
Acknowledgement. it was brought out that
there were IS posts in the department in
good standing January /, 1918, with total
membership of LAOS. On January !,
1917, there were eighty-five posts with
membership of 1926. For the first term
ending June 30, 1917, there was gain of
IA members against loss Of SO, 81 of
which was by death. For the second term
ending December 81 1917 there was a
gain of As members against a loss Of "a
members, 6S of whom were removed by
death. The net loss in membership for the
year was 121.
The report Of Mr.. Hunter as assistant
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for one year from
April 20, 1917, to April Is. 1918, showed ex-
penses amounting to s536S3. There is de-
posted in the Burlington Savings bank
$753.56 to the departments credit with a
cash balance of S197.9O, and $2S.5S worth
Of supplies.
The department chaplain, L. w. Bush,
reported that 70 posts observed Memorial
day with special services. 1,017 comrades
taking part, and that 9,793 graves were
decorated in 459 cemeteries of the State
on that day. There are 90 graves of
veterans that are unmarked by head
stones. The number of addresses delivered
on Memorial day by veterans was three.
The number of posts having their own
burial plots is 10.
CAMPFIRE AT CITY HALL.
In the evening in city hall campfire
was kindled under the auspices of STAN
nard Post number two of Burlington.
1t proved to be the banner event of the
encampment and was largely attended.
There was a lengthy and varied pro-
gram. and the affair lasted nearly three
hours.
The program opened with the singing
Of ''The Star Spangled Banner" followed
by the presentation of silk Ameri-
can flag to the high school of Swanton
in behalf of the Woman's Relief Corps.
The presentation speech was made by
Mrs Luella Bickford of Bradford and
the response was by II. L. Hunt, sup
erintendent of the Swanton schools.
Then about fifty children from the
fifth and sixth grades of the Adams
school under the direction of Miss Helen
Gilroy sang several patriotic songs.
Mayor ]. Holmes Jackson, in behalf Of
the city. welcomed the veterans and
their allied organizations. Mrs. Nellie
Crowley Of Rutland, president Of the
lief Corps. spoke in behalf of her or
eanization and it's work. The pupils
Of the burlington high school then sang
"Tenting Tonight" Harry s. Howard
spoke for the Sons of Veterans Two
vocal solos by Percy l.. Cooley from Fort
Ethan Allen pleased Mrs Eugenia d.
Fraser. president of the Auxiliary to
the Sons of Veterans. u. s. A.. gave
short address In which she called at
tention to the order it's merits and it's
functions and the qualifications which
are needed to be able to join 1t Allen
Kidder Of the burlington high school
gave several cornet solos.
Orlando E. Somers, commander in
chief of the National Department, Grand
Army of the Republic, was the special
guest and speaker of the evening. He
Is speaker of repute and has a way
of making his speeches alive to the
situation. He said in part:
COMMANDER SOMERS' ADDRESS
There is no dividing line between the
Grand Army of the Republic and its
several allied organizations We are
all one and there are no slackers among
us. l am jealous of the men in this
present war for it Is a larger one than
1 fought in. Never did men fight in
a greater cause than In the Civil war
fruits of victory as the veterans of 81
did. We saved a republic. The world
needs such republic and needs 1t
badly. The cause which we are now
fighting for 1t Is just one. Nations
realized that fact when America threw
in her might, for America Is Just. The
Grand Army has been for SO years trying
to educate the American public to patri-
otism. 1t needs patriotism. People say
to me that always talk about this war
and the war of 81 in my speeches. Well
do. The war of 81 was real war for
a real cause and so Is the present one
We won the first one and now we are
going to win the second one. When the
Grand Army wavers as its ranks grow
thinner and thinner, then 1t will fall upon
you, Sons OF Veterans and Daughters OF
Veterans, to educate the public to patri-
otism. The world needs democracy but
there can be no democracy unless there
IL patriotism behind the souls of each
and every citizen. Don't shed tears wher
your boy is called to the colors. 1t will
make him a man. Soldering is a mans
job Encourage him In every way and
above all, don't make him homesick by
writing how much you miss him. Nc
homesick soldier ever made a good fighter
and II there ever was a time when we
needed good fighters we need them now
Don't pamper him with doughnuts candy
etc. for the government feeds them good
and sufficient. No soldier who looks fol
doughnut holes can expect to fight Hun
Above ALL get behind him In spirit OF
self-sacrifice. Why don't America wake