Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-01-14
.HONORING SERVICE FLAG
War Camp Community Service Proposes
Natlan-Wide Ceremonies n
Fitting Tribute
Washinstsn's birthday Suggested a.
Appropriate Oceasion for
Community Service

tofHsnuftftt rffttff
Don't take d"~n your flags YET and
don't Keep fhem mp until they grad
Tally disappesr. weather beaten. int
tered aud nnnoficed This IL a plea of
War Camp community Service. which
does not believe that these embIems af
all our h"pe~ and fears during nur
nineteen irving monfls 81 war should
l'e laid aside without fitting ceremonies.
Instead Of taking down the flags one
by one ~ fast as the bows are mustered
out or the stars have turned fo gold.
War Camp Community Service urn.s
TINT their proud possessors should
keep them exhibited until a fixed date
when they can be demoliiiized af a pub
lie ceremony. The service iiag ha
been the one central emblem that has
represented the sons. husbands. hroih
ers. fathers and the sweethenrts %.
those who have rema ined behind. II has
appeared everywhere thronghouf the
country as u great sign ~ reverence
nm emblem ~ pride and harn. Great
mansions and isolated hnts have dis
played IL alike and fiag has waved to
flag from the humblcst milk wagon or
peddler's cart to the most gorgeous H.
m0usines.
War Camp Community Service siIg-
gests The period In which waShingt0n's
birthday falls as n fitting occasion for
the first ceremony Of the "demobiliza-
lion of the service flag" February 90
* u national holiday. and on Friday the
2lst the schools will be holding Wash
lngton'S birthday programs on this
sinae doy. factories. department stores.
office buildings. banks. industrial in
stitutions aud fraternul orders might
well also have the exercise of the
''demObilization Of the service flag"
On Sunday. the BIRD. the churches
should have their demobilzations.
The Service does not put this forth
ns vague suggestion, hut has planned
II well defined programme for these
t'nce DAYS. Service bars should be-
pinned land later sewed across IT,
stars which represent the boys who
have come home. For the fiags with
stars which have turned to gold a
specially designed permanent service
fag. to lie known as Gold Glory
should he substituted. and these should
I've kept on public exhibition as long ns
the mind ~ man retains the memory
of this most lust of wars. The chief
feature 0f the celebrations at which
these ceremonies take place should bc
community singing
The following progran can easily bc
arranged II the ma vOrs Of cities ami
governments of states aud. President
Wilson himself. back from planning
the great peace. would include IN their
messages n plea for its fulilllment
THE singing of America.
Ten minutes of community sing
ing.
Sing the war songs and the honc
songs. and above all the welcome
hone" songs.
Ten minute address by Il civilian.
Ten minute response by service
Iuan.
! solo.
6-Ten more minutes of community
Fifteen seconds of silent tribute
Ia the men who have fallen. This
would be the most impressive part "
the ceremony. Prior to the period -
silence the gold stars exhibited should
oh
crossed by bar the name Of the sol
dier represented by that har should Lr
read
6-nemobilizati of the service flag
stars for those men who have been
out
prayer.
lO-Community singing. ending with
Home Sweet Home" and the "Sinr
Spngled Banner"
only those stars. Of course. should he
which represent either
death ar discharge from service. In
the former case Gold Glories" should
ie hung in place for permanent exhi-
bition. These rehabilitation teremo-
nies should be repeated several times
during the year. Until our great ar
my l. deinohilized there should he ut
intervals 0f several months service
Iiag demobilizationS'' vi block parties.
churches. office buildings. department
stores fraternal orders. high schools.
olleges. small communities and at ev-
rry place where there Is n service flag
TN Washlngton's birthday the the
aires could take advantage Of the plan
io the extent Of having singing n. Nsh
performance. led. II possible. by sol
Her or sailor song leader. Word Of the
movement has been sent out To more
han six hundred communities which
War Camp Community Service already
and Il Is hoped that ON this
,ext national holiday great chorus Of
song Of praise and thankfulneSs and
iride viii rise aud swell across the
omtry until Il has heen heard In es-
ny hametl and isolated hut. In every
sreat city and every patriotic home
4 this glorious land.