Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-04-18
GATHER FOR
4. SYST ENCAMPMENT
Department Of Vermont Grand
81 -.
Army of the Republic, in An.
nual SessiOn-LOss of 6S Men,
: bers by Death during the Past
Year
Again a year has rolled away and to-day

the shadow OF the valley TO answer TO the
final reveile are gathered In Burlington
10 attend the 51st aanua! encampment or
the Department of Vermont. Grand Army
of the Republic, and its allied organiza~
tions
There Ave score hearts beat as one,
ten score more of eyes glsten With CRATE
rhl happiness and five score lips smile and
tsbeak words of friendship ard comradeshp-
They afe the men who pinned the Ameri-
can flag TO the highest pinnacle of free
dom who preserved for posterity q united
kovevnmen. and who freed the negroes
kro,i the bond of slavery and the sting
Of the southern lash. In some secluded
torner last night many a battle was
Fought again in "reminiscences and many
q happy hour at some southern campfire
Mas clearly recalled even after two score
Xears have passed into the unknown.
4 1t is at the New Sherwood Hotel that
Me annual encampment is being held and
Various sub-conventions, ETC.. of the
Grand Army and allied organizations will
be held in New Sherwood hall and
Masonic Temple.
',cThis morning at ten o'clock the opening
session of the encampment will be called
TO order in Sherwood hall by Department
Commander G. T.. S. Pierce of Nergennes,
insisted by his staff, composed of John
X. Wilson of Worcester, senior vice
commander e. f. Pierce of Springfield.
Junior vice-commander, and l.. w. Bush
Of Brookline; department chaplain.
While no definite information was avail
able last night it appears to he evident
that there are only two candidates for
The office of department commander. they
Being John r. Wilson of Worcester. now
the senior vice-commander, and L. w.
chaplain. This office will be filled by cleo
ZION this morning, as well as numerous
pther offices. To this office attaches the
Honor of representing the Department of
Vermont at the 52nd annual encampment
of the national department, which takes
place the week of August is in Portland.
Oregon.
Communicating hief of the National De-
partment, Grand Army of the Republic,
o. A. Somers of Indiana, who was sched-
uled to arrive last night was not present
owing to train connections, but he is ex-
pected to be present this morning and
will be given an enthusiastic welcome by
the Green Mountain veterans.
Among the past commanders noted last
night were: C. T.. Beach, Post No. 2, Bur-
lington, 1908; f. J. Foster, Post No 70,
Waterbury Center. 1910; c. NJ. Ferrin,
toct ->o. 90, T>SSch JuDCllOI1, 1911, "A. A.
Niles. Post, No. 4. Morrisville, 1912;
Thomas Harmon, Post No. AZ, Bennington,
1913; Edward Baker. Post No. 10. Mont
belier, 1914; George p. Martin Post No. 2,
Remington, 1915.
The department committee on creden-
tials. consisting of H. =. Hunter of Post
NO. of Brattleboro, assistant adjutant.
general; Carlos d. Williams of Post No.
OF Burlington, past assistant adjutant
general; and Edward Baker of Post No. /
OF Montpelier. past department com
mander. Issued proper credentials to thu
veterans last night in the writing room
of the New Sherwood
RECEPTION BY w. re.
Members of the Department of Yer.
mont. Womans Rel. # Corps rendered a
reception of'an informal nature in the la.
dies rooms of the hotel last evening from
$3.50 to nine O'Clock to the veterans, the
Sons of Veterans and their ladies' the
Spanish War Veterans and their ladie.
and the various other allied organization
to the G. A. r. Stringed instruments fur
nished a pleasing musical program
Mrs Nellie Crowley of Rutland, presi
dent of the Department of Vernon
Woman's Relief Corps, was in charge, as
sisted b her staff. The guest of the eve
ming was Mrs. Eliza Brown Daggart. o
Massachusetts, secretary of the Ma
nonal Department, Woman's Relief Corps
She represented the president of the ma
1tonal department whose home is in Hi
'nois and who was unable to be presen
ewing to illness.
~ The sessions of the Department of Yer
mont Woman's Relief Corps. will be he'll
IN the temple room Order of the Easter
Star, in Masonic Temple this morning a
pine o'clock. Practically all of the pas
department presidents were present an
rs far as could be ascertained it was tn
largest gathering for many years.
ii In the annua. address Of Department
Commander c. T. S. Pierce which he wi
deliver this morning he probably will com
ment on the face THAI the deeds which tn
veterans of g. die with miraculous cour
age and valor SOM 20 odd years ago ar
being forgotten by the great ma jorty VIII
think of only the deeds of the preent day
This is of great sorrow to the veteran
OF p1obabl; the greatest of civil wars. An
event Is forgotten too soon that is forgo,
Ten before al. of it's meaning is unfoidet
o. He will with sorrow mention the clear, col
fact that to-day he looks not upon the a,
cendiI.s host but or the recedng column
for the membership of the Veteran
Is fast being depleted by the call of tn
Great Commander in Chief to the fin;
btvouac yonier. Since encampment
year ago three score and eight OF II
Dw,ers Of the little bronze button ha,
entered the ranks of eternal host
the call OF Him who calls BIT once mr.
whose orders cannot be diSobeye
Commander Pierce win favornbly con
amend the Womans Relief corps for Il
excellent support that that organtzatio
has given during the last year. 1t
this organization that has a power TIL
grows and becomes more effective
o.. II Is used 1t is combined power 4
divine good and a personal force TIL
attaches itself to human interests al
wants In reference to the Sons
Veterans Commander Pierce will tou
,Mith feeling of pride and reveren
TO "our boys" and will commend the
on their loyalty to the flag and its d
tenders. The Ladies' Auxiliary will
taken into commentator for it's wo
with the Sons of Veterans in the vario
camps. The Ladies' of the G.. A.
S,Swill not be forgotten by Command
Pierce for in their veins course the bio
of the men who stood the shock of ba
tie, and their loyalty and faithfulne
is appreciated by the veterans. Wi
reference to Memorial Day 1t will
mentioned that the day is one of gre
significance and it should be he
sacred and not devoted to amusemen
A short report on the National Encam
ment to which Commander Pierce W
delegate will be given. Commendati
for the Soldiers Home maintenance a
it's superintendency may be give
Special mention OF the dead will co