The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-11-16
Interesting Addresses
Mark First Meeting
Attendance l. arg e K
Than Expected Good
Health and Good Feel
ing, Aided By Perfect
Weather, Contribute
To Make the Occasion
a Great Success

The State ReunlOn Oh lne uHllSu
Confederate Veterans opened at 9:30
this morning at the Auditorium. The
weather was perfect and good at
tendance of Lakeland men and wo-
men were in attendance as well as the
visitors. Many wearers OF the Blue
turned out to see their former foes
enjoy themselves and to take pleas
ure in the. proceedings.
The Auditorium was decorated on
stage, boxes, balcony, and walls with
Confederate flags among the national
banners. The stage was decorated
with especial care and the snowy
heads and gray coats of the Veterans
and the beautiful gowns of the ladies'
were set off against great Conied-
crate flag and two "Star-spangled
Banners"
The American Legion Orchestra
filled the pit, and thoroughly imbued
with the atmosphere of the OCCASION
gave spirited renderings of the men,
.ory-touching airs of the old South.
One particularly thrilling moment
came when the orchestra struck up
with Dixie and the assemblage rose
to its feet and greeted the deathless
tune with vociferous applause and the
swinging of hats
II General j. d. Allen, commander OF
thaaJ Lakeland post of the Confederate
! Veterans. opened the meeting. The
Invocation delivered by Rev. S. H..
. Eshman, pastor of the Cumberland
ss Presbyterian church, was plea that
God may help us to follow the eX-
ample of the brave soldiers of the
South, and that the remaining mem-
Eers of the Confederate army may
long be spared TO us.
T. B. o Streen, commission from
Ward Four, made the address of wei
come OH behalf OF the city and his
remarks were delivered in Il sincere
manner that thoroughly won his au7
dience.
T.. b. OSteen'S Address
Mr.. Commander, Confederate Vet
erans, Ladies and Gentlemen:
/ need not say welcome to the men
of the Confederacy; every heart III
Lakeland throbs to welcome you and
every loyal home smiles a welcome.
The soldiers who wore the blue, our
winter visitors from all over the
Union are here with us today to say
"Welcome."
Seven years ago our city bade you
welcome. We did our best to show
YOU then what privilege we deemed
it to welcome this noble body OF
Southern men, and now on your re-
turn we hope we may outdo that best
s. We are here with love in our hearts,
proud to mingle with the men who
followed Lee and Jackson, Forrest
and Gordon, Sidney Johnson and
nFighting Joe" Wheeler. You stood
proud and still master when all save
honor was gone, struggling through
peace as you had through war, you
gave new hope to your shattered
country until today scars are beauti-
fed and healed Nothing is left now
but graves and garlands, monuments
and veterans and precious memories
The flag of the Confederacy is min
gled with our national banner. You
love to sing II wish l was in Dixie
but with uncovered heads you salute
the flag of the Union and clasp hands
with the men who wore the blue.
ssWhen these heads are white with
glory,
When the shadows from the west
Lengthen as you tell your story,
In the veterans ward to rest,
May no ingrate's words pf sneering
Reach one heart of all the brave
But may honor, praise, and cheering
Guard old valor to the grave"
In the. name of the city of Lake
land, welcome, thrice welcome.
Mr.. O'Steen then introduced Gen
eral Allen who welcomed the Wis
itors on behalf of the local camp, as
4 surfing them that their deeds ant
4 character were known and reverencet
by all the citizens of Lakeland, ant
his remarks were received with mucl
appreciation.
Gen. Aliens Speech
Comrades of the Florida Depart
ment Of the United Confederate Vet
erans: l cannot adequately express
to you the pleasure take in greet
Il ing you face to face on this pleasan
occasion. The last gathering i
Lakeland of this body was held Il
1914, and we have been hoping eve
A since for the day when you woul
come back to us and again honor on
city with your presence.
+. In Lakeland, where the citizenr
has been recrhited from every stat
IL ihe union pnd from Canada an