Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-08-25
Welcoming Addresses Made by Mayor Fisher and John
Trimyer-Responses by L. E. Lookabil, Or. IL.
W. Battle and ]. w. Morrison.
More Than 100 Delegates
Committees Appointed by President Ogden-ReportS
Submitted at Afternoon Sesson-Election OF OfI-
GERS and Selection of Next Convention City
VIII Bring Meeting to Close.

With more than 100 delegates in
attendance the thirty-fourth annual
meeting of the Virginia State Fire
linens convention convened shortly
after 10 o'clock this morning in the
auditorium of the Elks' Home. Ken
netn w. Ogden, president of the as
sociation and chief of the Alexandria
Fire Department presided.
The convention was opened with the
PLAYING of the "Star Spangled Ban
ner" by the Citizens Band while the
delegates stood at attention. Invoca-
ton was delivedel by Rev. H. W. Bat
tie, state chaplain, Charlottesville.
In his prayer the chaplain asked the
blessing of the Almighty on the vol
unteer firemen and the venerable chief
Williams of Charlottesville.
| : On behalf of the city of Alexandra
Mayor Fisher welcomed the fremen
and, concluding his address, said to
the firemen: 'The city is yours-go to
It." The mayor was given a rolsing
reception after his address In well
oming the visiting fire fighters he
told then, of the many points Of in
| terest to be seen in Alexandria, some
Of which, he declared, were sacred
ground" He suggested visit to the
old Carlyle House, Christ Church, the
Masonic Temple and also the indus
trial plants of the city and visit to
Washington home.
Fond recollections of the good old
days back in 1890 were recalled by L..
E. Lockabill, Roanoke. state statis-
tician. when on the menu card at the
banquet for the fremen in Alexandria
when the state convention assembled
was Roman punch and Cabinet beer.
Mr.. Lockabil said this was the fourth
convention held in Alexandria of the
association, the first being in 1890 the
second in 1904 and the third in 1910.
A glowing tribute to the excellent
fire department of Alexandria was
given in an address of welcome on
behalf of the Alexandria Fire Depart
ment by John H. Trimyer. The speak
or asserted he deemed it an honor to
bc selected to welcome the firemcn on
behalf of the Alexandria Fire Depart
ment. and he welcomed the visitors
| in their name. Continuing Mr.. Trim
yer said. There is no higher motive
of patriotism than that of a volun-
teer fireman The speaker told of
the self-sacrfice Of the fircmen and
their disregard for their own personal
safety and comfort in order to help
their fellowman. Speaking Of the
Alexandria Fire Department he said:
"We all believe that the department
cannot be exccllcd for its size and
equipment by any in the United
States and, he added, it is 100 per
cent efficient. Its efficiency was re-
sponsible for the small loss by fire,
he said. He paid tribute TO Fire
Chief Ogden, whom, he said. was hon
ored by all of the members Of the To-
} cal department as well as those out
side of the city.
"My train did not belong to the
. Virginia Volunteer Firemcn's .Assoc-
alton or it never would have been late
mcnt with which DR.. Henry w. Battle,
in the hour of need" was the state
chaplain of the Virginia State Fire
mems Association, began his answer
to the address Of welcome delivered
on the part of the Alexandria Fire
Department by John H. Trimycr.
DR.. Battle stated that he had rc-
ceived a cordial invitation from the
local department to deliver a short
address at the session here today. the
, invitation reaching him last Monday
He added that he had been ATTENDING
"a religious convention. but that hi
! had Immediately wired his acceptance
: of the invitation and had made his
plans accordingly.
}, DR.. Battle wore the uniform of tn,