Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-19

That the Department of Maine,
Grand Army of the Republic. would
not surrender the charter of organ
ization so long as there was a single
surviving comrade of the G. A. r.
to retain possession, was the declara-
tion of Nathaniel w. White of this
city and Maiden, Mass, Department
commander of the glorious old affilia-
ton of veterans, who served their
nation in the Civil war, speaking at
the S7th annual camp fire of the
Kennebec county camps, Sons of
Union Veterans and their AuXiliaries,
held Monday evening at Grand Army
hall in this city.
Commander White, one of the splen-
did veterans of the Grand Army, was
accorded a tumultuous ovation as he
responded to the Introduction by
Judge Robert A. Cony, past Division
commander of the S. of ", who pre-
sided at the program last evening. He
called attention to the fast diminish
ing ranks OF the Civil war veterans,
and charged the members of the sec
ond generation organizations - the
Sons of Veterans and their Auxilaries
with their responsibility to carry
on the work and ideals of the veter-
ans organization, but reiterated that
the charters of the G. A. r. posts
in this department would be retained
so long as there was comrade liv-
ing.
Kennebec Camps and Auxiliaries
One of the largest assemblies ever
present at an annual campfire observ-
ance filled Grand Army hall to ca
pacity last evening to participate in
the program Of the 37th observance.
The Col. Henry G.. Staples camp and
their Auxiliary were the hosts, and
the evening program was preceded by
a harvest supper, served from to Z
o'clock by the energetic members of
the Henry G. Staples Auxiliary. Dele
cations or representatives were pres
emit from all camps and auxiliaries of
the county, they being the Pell Cla-
son camp and Auxiliary of Gardiner,
the General c. w. Tilden camp and
Auxiliary of Hallowell, the Tozier
camp and Auxiliary of Litchfield, the
General George Mcclellan camp and
Auxiliary of Cooper's Mills, the Gar
field camp and Auxiliary of Water
Vile. the J. Wesley Gilman camp and
Auxiliary of Oakland and the camp
and Auxiliary at South China.
welcome by Hon. Burleigh Martin
Hon. Burleigh Martin delivered the
address of welcome at the opening
of the program, and an interesting
and unusual coincidence was revealed,
when it was found in the camp records
that his father, the late DR.. Robert
J. Martin, gave the welcome address
at the first annual camp fire, SIS years
ago.
Commander Leland White of Pitts
field and other division officers of the
Sons of Union Veterans and Auxili-
airy were present at the session and
interesting remarks were made by
Commander White, and by Past Divi-
sion Commander DIR. W. o. Cobb of
Gardiner, Z. K. Gould of Rockland.
division ecretary-treasurer; and by
Colonel Keith Ryan, governor of the
Eastern Branch, National Home for
Volunteer Soldiers, at Togus.
Entertainment Program
During the evening a splendid mu-
steal and entertainment program was
presented, with orchestra numbers BY
the Bigelow Boys Orchestra of
Hallowe1l, a harmonica solo by Lillian
McEachern, president of the Henry
j. Staples Auxiliary; a solo by Ed
gar Robinson, Jr.; ukelele number
by Miss Cecilia Became, a specially
singing and dancing number by Miss
Pauline Pierce and Edgar Robinson,
readings by Harriet Davis and Eva
Duplessis, and the singing of Amer
lea" by the entire assembly.
Besides Department Commander
Nathaniel w. White, three other hon
ored veterans of the Civil war, men,
bers of the G. A. r., we're seatsd upon
the platform as special guests. They
were Comrades Charles F. Tibbetts,
Frederick Ficke. and Edwin Cowan,
of Rockland.
The program for the s7th annual
campfire was efficiently planned and
successfully executed by committee
of which Past Division Commander
Clarence H. Cram, representing the
Col. Henry G. Staples camp, and
Alma J. Hamilton of the Auxiliary,
were chairmen.