Norwich bulletin., 1918-05-20
DEDICATE SERVICE FLAG AT COLcHES STER
Flag of St. Andrews Catholic Church Contains B Stars With One Gold star-Bg Parade Exercises at The Church Sermon By Rev. O. S. Beaunister.

All colchesters citizens turned out to a man Sunday at the dedication and unfurling of the service flag of St. Andrews parish and several thou sand people lined the streets of the town to see the parade which was one of the best ever held in that place. s The dedication services opened with the procession were one little girl rep church bearing the service flag. In the procession was one little girl rep. resentating Columbia and two boys representing the army and navy re- EspectiFely. As the procession entered the church the choir composed of ish and St. Johns parish of Fitch vile sang The Star Spangled Banner.
 At the altar before the blessing of the flag Rev. Joseph Ford, rector of St Andrews, briefly addressed the vis- iting Knights of Columbus and thank
 ed them for their interest, time and
 money which they so generously gave to make the dedication service 8. sue
 cess. The blessing of the flag was by Rev. o. s. Beaumister.
 From the text. Greater love than
 this no man hath, that man lay down
 his life for his friends" Rev. Father |
 mon for the occasion.
 Declaring that it was for sacred and heaven freedom and de
 mecracy that our national banner of the Stars and Stripes had been un. furled and shall remain uRfurled until time shall be no more, the preacher continued in part as folieK(
 Around the bits of vari-eolored bun.- ing which we bless and. dedicate te- day, there cluster throughts of leyal- ty. patriotism, profound religious faith and of individual. personal sS-arifieo which is being placed upon the sacred l shrine of liberty and which shalt en- able the world to move steadily for ward through common interests and unity of effort to rear a gorgeous, i splendid structure the eulminatien of Twentieth Century CiFilization-Free dem and Democracy.
 In the present world struggle, we of this land hold ideals represented in l the history and the promise. of the Stars and StripeS. The ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness safeguarded for all mankind. And l while many must fail in the achieve l ment of these ideals, a noble and in- peFishable good will endure as monu- : ment to their great sacrifice. History can hestoW upon the soldier no greater and nc higher eeeFnium than that of
 Defender of the Flag.
 Proud ef Defenders of Flag.
 The Catholic Service Flag as we'll as thousands of similar flags througnout the land, shows that we as Catho- lies and as citizens are wide awake and fully alive to the needs of the day.
 Saint Andrews Catholic parish and the town of Colchester are justly iproud of the loyal and brave sDe- l lenders of the Flag who have gone l forth from here and who stand second lte none throughout this vast country l in patriotism, courage and resolve to l do their "bit' to carry this wonder 1 full emblem of democracy lover the i top,' on through glorious victory tl l permanent work peace. And what is l true of the boys of Saint Andrew's parish, is true of every other Catholic 1 parish in these United States.
 As Christian Soldiers.
 l Our boys, and the boys of some ei you here present have been summoned i to enter the ranks to fight as Chris.
 tlan soldiers for a Christian cause. The hour of trial is at hand They. al l !! as well as patriots We all are resolved 1 to perform our duty and say with tIt 1 ancient warriors of the Cross. "Got 1 wills it, Let patriotic loyalty with { capacity great enous.1 for any sacri flee be our slogan. That is the kind 0.
 men and women our country needs men who are ready to stake all fol the common good. But in all this le | our motive be noble; justice temper.
 ed with mercy.
 It is with such motives that tn; young men of this narish, whose mem
 ory is designated by the stars on thi: flag, have broken all home ties: bad, farewell to father. mother, sisters
 brothers and friends given up thei1 peaceful pursuits, aims and ambition; l of life to endure the rigors, hardship | and dangers of camp life at home an; i in the trenches abroad.
 And because of these motives dt ,, we invoke heavens choicest benedic i tion upon the flag today, upon thos. whom it's blue stars indicate. and rep. resent, And as we bless and dedicatt l this flag and display it high above oul
 parish grounds, may the sight of i 1 waving majectically in the breeze. 1 stimulate our patriotic spirit of sac | rif1ce for them and the cause fo
 which they are willing to give the; | priceless human lives. Each tim,
 we gaze aloft and behold it's starr center may we breathe silent praye
 for their moral and physical welfare so that they and all the boys of ever. other denomination and creed from tn town of Colchester. may go clean owe the top and lover the top clean. soo1 to return to our midst with the laurel
 and olive branch of victory and peace | a credit to their country, a credit t their town, an honor to their churel and a blessing to their families.
 1 Praise Fer Non Catholics.
 | And last but not lease, while we ar
 proud of our record thus far accom-
 plished, and while we already sing tn
 praises of our own and reyel in tn
 hopes we place in them, let us neve for a moment appear selfish or vainl egotistical to the exclusion of tn thousands and thousands of noble me and women, not Of our religious unior who are giving a splendid and most re | nsarkahle account of themselves t 8 degree. that arouses admiration an
 offers inspiration to us not to be out classed or outdone by the noble spiri that aninates them to give and d their noble share, equally as much ar
 i've are giving. to uphold the grand an
 blessed traditions of our happy an ,l prosperous country and win for 1t tn | best and highest crown of glory. " ! pray for them all. God bless them all
 God protect them all, God strengthe
 them and lead them on, the faithfl 1 com patriots of cur own boys, friend [ and comrades, without class or. distinc
 ton, that all united; all for one an