Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-06
SERVICE FLAGS
OF 69PARISHES
~
At CATHEDRAL
4+.vt
Archbishop Harry BIesses EN-.
bIems With 10000 Stars
Showing Catholic Boys
at War.

Catholic faith, who have enlisted in
the military service from the Oma-
ha diocese. were honored in signal
fashion \at service held at St.
Cecelias cathedral Sunday after
noon.
Service flags from % parishes in
the diocese, IS of which are in
Omaha, displaying more than 10000
stars, were presented to an audience
that filled the cathedral to overflow
ing. As each service flag was called
to the pulpit carried by delegate
from the parish. who in almost every
case was a soldier in uniform, it was
noted by the vast audience that
among the blue stars was a sprink-
ling Of stars of gold. One of the
larger flags displayed five gold
stars, and many of them had two
and three.
After the flags were assembled in
the. pulpit they were blessed by
Archbishop Harry of the Omaha
DIOCESE, where they remained in
charge of their bearers during the
service, after which they were car
ried through the aisles of the church
and to the repository, where they
will. remain in charge of the arch
bishop of the diocese.
A rsplendld musical program vas
rendered during the service by a
choir made up of the singers from
the various Omaha parishes, Miss
sTraynor, organist, and by a band
q which played national and sacred
seleetions.N
Add Star of King.
Rev. Father Thurnte of Cedar
Rapids. Ia, made the principal adj
dress, his subject being Service and
Sacrifice
At the opening OF his address he
said: We just now have blessed in
4 solemn way the service flags rep
fesenting the many Catholic parishes
of Omaha city and diocese. We
Tlus have added the great star Of
Pe.hlehem--the star OF the king of
kirGs-the star of the king of peace,
70 the great and glorious stars repre-
scented here on these flags. By this
Eessing of service flags we have
written with golden letters the name
cl Jesus Christ across the red, white
and blue The red, white and blue
dear to the whole world, and which
viii always be where the Americans
are. Having thus blessed the name
of Christ across the red, white and
blue, we place the flags at the foot
Of the altar-the altar of love, and at
the feet of Jesus Christ"
The speaker asked hiS audience
that they place themselves also at
the altar and consecrate themselves
to the Lord for another great war
against the evil of the world. He
said the coming year would be the
most memorable in our history. for
we are to reap the first fruit of the
immense sacrifice. made by millions
of gallant men," He praised the
craftsmanship of President Wilson
and Expressed his confidence in him
during the reconstruction. He said
the war had killed much of the wick
edness of the world and has de-
stroyed to great extent the perils
upon which many governments we're
resting. He referred to Paul. who
said. "Re-establish all things in
Christ" and added: That means
nothing else but do what the great
Pope Plus X tried to do--re-
establish all things in Christ, for no
other Foundation can be made than
that which was made, which is Jesus
Christ"
Archbishop Accepts Flags.
Archbishop Harry of the Omaha
diocese, in accepting the keeping of
the service flags of the diocese, said:
II accept these service flags pre-
scented here this afternoon, | &C
cept them in the name of Christ
Jesus. I am so filled with emotion
that,I dare not trust myself to speak.
This occasion is so significant, so
beautiful, so deeply consoling to the
heart of man, that can only say
first of all in deepest emotion to the
reverend pastors. who are here in
such Numbers, to the clergy of the
diocese. my deepest and sincerest
gratitude. Secondly to the young
gentlemen who have carried these
standards, and especially to those
who come from the rural districts,
who have come at great sacrifice
this afternoon in the cold and in the
storm with those wonderous, Won
derous symbols of Sacrifice and of
service, you also have my deepest
gratitude, and as these flags mar
shaled before me this afternoon /
caught now and then golden star
here and there-golden stars--you
know what they mean, you know the
sacrifice that it emphasizes. And
what shall we say? Say, returned
to rest Grant unto them perpetual
life, the life that only God can give
us, to those that have made the sac
rihce., Oh, how deeply significant is
that sacrifice"
The archbishop paid a tribute 10
America. and turning to the young
men holding the service flags said:
America is yours. 1t belongs to US. "
The archbishop expressed the hope
that the freedom OF small nations
would be recognized at the peace
conference, especially after the sac
rifees our boys Ia made since war
was declared, .rd he asked the a.
dience to salute the service flags
as they were being carried to the re-
pository. In accepting their keep
ing, he said; Salute these flags
that mean so much to us. that mean
so much to the nation. We shall
keep them in St. Cecelias as some
thing very sacred. as something that
means so much to us"