Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-05-05
FLAG FERMENTATION.

FLAG FERMENTATION.
The club room on the third floor OF
the armory building was the scene OF
memorable and impressive ceremony
on Wednesday evening when Manches-
ter Post OF the American Legion was
presented with q beautiful United
States flag with staff and belt for car
rying IT. Six members Of the w. A.
Morse Post Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic met with the Legion Post and
Joined with the younger men in plan
ming the Memorial Day exercises. At
the conclusion of the business Of the
meeting, Or. A. j. Collinge left the
room and returned with the beautiful
flag for which there was scarcely
room under the low ceiling and stand
ing by the flag which meant so much
to every man present, he presented it
to the Legion boys in behalf of the w.
A. Morse Post and Women's Relief
Corps.
Or. Collinge said he considered It q
high honor to be chosen as the repre-
sentative to present the flag and said
1t was the only flag in the world which
had been carried In seven wars and
never defeated. He reminded the
boys that all the great wars In which
our country engaged had begun In
April and said that he was convinced
another war would come, perhaps even
in his time. when Americans would
again be called to defend our flag
from aggression hy q foreign nation
which gave every Indication OF follow
ing Germany's plan for world domin-
alton.
DR.. CoIlinge said that he had, served
throughout the war In an Illinois reg
iment whose coIorseare still preserved
ut Springfield, having never been cap-
tured by the enemy although eleven
color bearers were killed or mortally
wounded under them. He said he
believed that our flag was the flag Of
civilization and Christianity and was
destined to be the emblem Of progress
and prosperity for the world.
He said he had never doubted the
outcome Of the war when our country
entered the world war. for "blood will
tell'' and - knew the younger soldiers
WouM prove : credit to their country
and the record Of American soldiers
from the first time in every war in
which we had engaged. He said the
old soldiers were proud OF the record
made In France by the younger gener-
alton who had astonished the critics
and taught the European nations how
to fight.
Major Harry G. Utley, commonder
'Of the Legion Post, accepted the flag
and assured the old soldiers that the
young men had been inspired to love
of country by the examples Of the
soldiers Of the Civil War and he said
that SO long as ths veterans Of the
World War lived they would respect
the memory Of the Civil War veterans
and try to follow in their steps In con-
ductpg the services OF Memorial Day
and all other patriotic work. Short
talks were also given by C. G.. Yoran,
ID. "A. Preussner. Roy Welterlen and
Sam Gilbert. The two latter, Of whom
one served with the 168th Infantry and
the other with the Marines and was
wounded at Belleau Wood, agreed that
II all the men who were in service had
seen actual fighting and had lost bud
dies" in action, there would not be one
absent from the Memorial Day SER
Vices as they would think it the least
they could do for their dead comrades
to take part in the exercises.
Don A. Preussner Is chairman OF the
committee on arrangements for Me-
mortal Day and plans were discussed
with suggestions from the old yeter-
ans present. 1t was unanimously de-
cided to wear the uniforms on Mem
0rial Day, but not to wear them Sum
day to the preaching service.
The American Legion boys were
deeply touched by the gift Of the beau
tiful flag for the post. especially in
coming from the old Grand Army post.
whose ranks are so sadly depleted and
whose treasury cannot well be over
supplied.