The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-10-24
Formal Presentation Was
Made at State House
in Montpelier
LIEUT.-GOV. STONE
ACCEPTS FOR STATE
Col. w. j. Keville Pays a
Tribute to Vermont
Boys in the War

The presentation of the colors and
shields of the world war organizations
of which Vermont boys formed part
took place in the representatives hall
in the State House in Montpelier last
evening. IL was attended by some 200
veterans of the war and about $50 per
sons, mostly relatives and friends of
those attending. The program as ar
ranged by Adjt, Gen III. T. johnson
was a very interesting one. The OBJ
seryance was made the more notable
because of the fact that it was year
ago Thursday that the only two boys
killed in l0lst ammunition train lost
their lives in action.
Col. +. b. Thomas Of Montpelier pre-
sided over the exercises. He referred
to the early history Of the nation and
the sturdy men who have come down
through the history of Vermont, that
the boys of this war have accomplished
as much as any Of them 1t is not re-
corded that any foe ever got away with
a Vermont flag although he admitted
that we came near losing it in this war.
He believed that the boys who have
seen the historic things about the
State House have carried that idea of
what their forefathers accomplished
with them in the present war. He read
several letters from persons who could
not attend These included Gen c. r.
Edwards, Congressman P. II. Dale and
Frank l.. Greene and Senators W. ?.
Dillingham; and Carroll S. Page.
> History of the lst Vermont.
Capt. L. w Gibson of Brattleboro
gave brief history Of the lst Yer.
mont and the 57th Pioneer regiments,
He was personnel adjutant OF both. He
was with the latter organization when
there were but four men left, himself
and three Others. This
was the size of his organization when
he came home and when he was the
commanding officer Of the battleship
Vermont. which brought the boys
home, the ship being designated to
bring home the 57th Pioneer regiment,
making him the ranking officer
Capt, Gibson told Of the tragedies
through which the lst Vermont and
57th went in efforts to recruit, only to
see their men going to other organiza
tlons, but thanks 20 Gov. II. +. Graham
the lst Vermont was the best equipped
regiment this side of the Mississippi
river. If it had not been for this fact
the boys would not have gone to
France as soon as they did nor would
they have seen service SO soon. After
all, the 57th was a Vermont organiZa-
tion, for there were 30 officers and some
430 men when the $500 Tennessee re-
eruits came TO the organization. In
two months 10000 men were placed on
the roll OF the regiment, many later
going TO other organizations. Seven
teen DAYS after the Tennessee boys
left their homes, the regiment was en-
route to France. Influenza affected the
regiment, some 2S6 men dying upon ar
rival in France.
In the last big drive the regiment
became replacement organization,
leaving Capt Gibson and three others
but the organization was kept com
pIete. All Of the routine of regiment
occurred. All of the reports used by
regiment were regularly made as
though there were 3,400 men, including
regimental inspections.
History of so2d Field Artillery.
Color Sergt Albert J. Seguin Of New
port gave history of the 302d field
artillery and presented the eolors His
was pleasing talk as he explained
the part which the organization had in
the last days of the war with only II
deaths. three of which were Vermont
boys, including Sergt. Coppings, Corp.
Noble and Private Buttons.
Col Keville complimented vermonters.
Probably as welcome visitor as
there appeared was Col. w J. Keville,
commanding officer of the I0lst am
munition train, who was given a round
OF applause when he came forward.
His story was one Of considerable in
terest and was well told He explained
the foundation of the train and paid
the Vermont boys some nice compli
ments for their excellent service. He
read several citations which the train
received for its bravery He told the
ordeals through which the boys passed,
the suffering from meningitis of which
the friends back home did not know,
the delays Of getting equipment after
they reached France and then the ex
cellent work they did in service in the
Toul sector, at the battle of the Marine,
back in the ST. Mihiel sector and later
near Verdun
When asked what day he could come
to Vermont he wrote Gen. johnson
Oct. %, because it was the observance
of the death of the two boys who were
killed His beautiful tribute to the
memory Of those boys brought tears
to the major portion of the audience.
The last citation he read was long
one from Cen c. X. Edwards.
No remarks were made when the
presentation of the guidons took place
because of the lateness of the hour,
These were presented as follows; Co. l.,
l0lst ammunition train, Capt. Haroll
NJ Howe; Co. q, Capt. Roy B. Miner,
Brahleboro; Co. +, Sergt. Arlon Il.
SpsuIding, st. Adams; Co. G., Corp.
Chester Mooney, Newport.
Lieut.. Charles A. Pcllett of Brattle-
boro presented the shield of the l0lst
machine gun battalion, Capt. Harold
r. Sheldon of Fair Haven that of the
nod machine utD battalion Cant 10