Evening star., 1949-09-01
GAR Breaks Ranks
For Last Time as Six
Veterans Head Home
Ay the Assoeiofsd Press

vVIV1 Wiz alVUO u1Vl1lv
BY ths Assoeiotsd Press
INDIANAPOLIS. Sept. 1.-The
Grand Army of the Republic broke
up for the last time today.
. There was a. final clasping Of
shaking old hands last night, q
God-speed from their commander
and a prayer.
Today six old veterans are scat
tering, never to meet again. at
least in formal encampment. They
signed and sealed the decision in
their only business session yes
terday.
Then for more than hour, vet
Grams of later-but no more color
ful-wars marched behind the
separate cars In which the six tired
old soldiers rode in q twilight
parade. Almost 100000 thronged
the curbs along the 12-block route.
cheering the aged men In their last
blaze of martial glory.
War Memories Are Fleeting.
Bands and f1fers brought back
the almost-dead memories Of '65
with 1.-THE Battle Cry of Freedom"
and Tramp. Tramp. Tramp the
Boys are Marching"
: The war memories were few
and heeting in the campfire" ses-
sion that closed the 83d and last
encampment. II was a drum
major" offered Albert Woolson,
{ 102, of Duluth, Mimi, who was
named Junior vice commander yes
terday.
. Theodore A. Penland. 100. Of
Vancouver, Wash. waved happily
from the back of an automobile
seat all along the parade route.
. At the campfire" he bravely
. sang "Tenting on the Old Camp
Ground"
Mr.. Penland proudly received a
: diamond-studded past command
er's badge, though he'll now be
. commander for life. The badge,
/. pinned on his blue uniform by
!. his grandson, Eldon C. Geyer,
East Lansing, Mich, recognizes
his service for the past year.
Kissing Is Hobby at 108.
i, For the other centenarians, any
war memories were crowded out
by the present and the uncertain
ties of life.
"I have a hobby" reported
: James A. Hard, 108, Rochester,
N. Y. ITO receive a kiss from
most Of the ladies in the land"
II am among all my friends"
said Joseph Clovese. 105-year-old
Negro veteran from Pontiac, Mich.
White friends" he added with a
happy smile, II hope we shall all
meet in heaven together"
Il get pretty tired" apologized
Robert Barrett. 102, of Prince
ton. KY.
Chatty Charles L. Chapel, 102,
from Long Beach, Calf, didn't
get to the farewell ceremony. He
was warned to take it easy afterl
collapsing Monday night. So,
after riding in the parade, he
compromised by chatting in his
hotel lobby with any one who
came around.
Two to Fly Home Today.
With the old camp days ended,
the GAR becomes a scattering of
Is members and a collection of
historic mementoes.
Until the last member dies and
the GAR is at last disbanded by
the Supreme Court. the relics will
be in charge of peppery, gray
haired Cora E. Gillis. GAR secre-
tary. -'7 -'s '-
After the disbanding, the last
records will go to the Library of
Congress. Flags. badges and the
seal go to the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition.
Mr.. Hard and Mr.. Chapel both
made plans to fly home today.
Comdr. Penland will visit in East
Lansing with his grandson, Mr..
Geyer, superintendent of the Ham
tramck (Mich) schools. Mr..
Woolson said his ambition is to
celebrate the golden anniversary
of his second marriage in 1854.
He has four daughters by that
marriage.
The end of GAR camps has al
ready brought signs of rivalry
among the five groups which have
been meeting here with the old
veterans. They have always met
in the cities chosen by the GAR.
Yesterday the Sons of Union
Veterans, only mems group allied
with the GAR, authorized its ma
tional officers to choose their 1950I
meeting place. The group also in
vited the GAR members to be
guests at all future conventions.
The four allied women's groups
had been making plans to have
all five meet in California next
year. Through Miss Gillis, they
had issued the same guest invita-
ton to the old veterans.