Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 143, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1913 — FLAG DAY CELEBRATED BY THE W. R. C [ARTICLE]

FLAG DAY CELEBRATED BY THE W. R. C

Interesting Patriotic Program Commemorated Birthday of “Old Glory” Carried Out Saturday. The Woman’s Relief Corps, Department of Rensselaer, celebrated Flag Day, June 14, Saturday afternoon. A very pleasing and appropriate program was carried out as follows: After the singing of America, when Miss Mary Harper led at the-organ, Mrs. Amsler read an article on The National Flag and a short piece on Flag Day. June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress passed the resolution ‘that the Flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be thirteen white stars in a blue field, representing a new constellation.’ Old Glory has led our armies to all their victories. It has floated over them in the Revolutionary War; the War of 1812; the Mexican War; the Civil War, and the Span-ish-American War.

It symbolizes so much to every one on American soil that it should be forever before our eyes and the children should be taught" to revere it as a sacred thing.” Mrs. Ohilders read a very instructive and original article on America’s Flag, closing witn a recitation entitled “Our Flag.” Mrs. Powers gave the History of The Flag, and Mrs. Benjamin gave a short history of The Flag. Mrs. Blue read The Bronze Button, and Mrs. Clark: What Does the Bronze Button Mean? Mrs. Harper, Miss Mary and Mrs. Childers pleasantly sang Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean.

Mrs. Peyton gave the history ot the Stars and Stripes, and Mrs. Hagens, read: The Old Grand Army Boys. (Poem). Mrs. Myers gave a very interesting account of the celebration of the discovery of Florida, which occurred about March 17, at St. Augustihe. She said in part: “There were thousands of people there and there were numbers of Flags floating here and there which the Indians did not understand and they became excited and then ‘Old Glory’ was unfurled and a great shout went up.” She concluded her talk by saying: “I never realized before how much our Flag meant and I never loved it so much before as I have since.”

Mrs. Green spoke briefly of What Inal poem entitled: “This day is sacred to Our Great American Flag.” Mrs. Green spoke brlfly of What the Flag Has Cost in the Blood of Heroes and in broken hearts at home in the following words: “Sometime during the dark days of the Civil War Gen. Banks took his army, stationed them at New Orleans, and persued the confederates up the Red river, of the south, to Shrevesport, where a decisive battle occurred, the Union army being victorious, and as the rebels were fleeing in our direction, Gen. Banks, with his men, were fleeing back to the boats that they might get back down over the rapids In the river, before the high water, which had made it possible for them to ascend, should go down. In order to accomplish this the dead and dying soldiers of both armies were left on the battle field, and today their bones are still bleaching on the plains, for aught we know. Perchance the kindly rains have washed the soil of mother earth up over them and she has thus folded them to her bosom. Perhaps the tall weeds, rising and falling year after year, have been the garlands with which kind nature has honored her dead. We do not know how this is but we recall that as the fleeing soldiers sped past the prostrate bodies of their dying comrades they heard the cry, “Water! Water! Give me water!" Years have rolled by and ever when memory carries the survivors of that battle back to Shrevesport, they still hear that cry: “Water! Give me water!”

, This was for the hero, at the home the sacrifice was the mothers’ *.h earts blood", for one day her prayers ceased and she folded her tired hands and sank into the arms of her Savior where only she found rest.” These exercises were concluded by the Flag bearers, four in number. They carried the Flags to the altar and held them at partial “dip" while the patriotic instructor read an ode to "Old Glory,” and then they recited in concert the following words: “O folds of white and scarlet! O blue field with your silver stars! May fond eyes welcome you, willing feet follow yon, wanm hearts cherish you, and dying lips give you their blessing! .Ours by inheritance, ours by allegiance, outs by affection, long may you float on the free winds of Heaven, the emblem of Liberty, the hope of the world.”

Delicious refreshments were then served by the president and her able assistants, consisting of ice cream, cake and strawberry lemonade, and a general good time was enjoyed by all present The visitors were Mrs. Rev. Harper and daughter, Miss Mary, Mrs, Wishard, Mrs. Howe, Mrs. Randla Mrs. James Yeoman, Mrs. Tryon, the Misses Lizzie and Mary Gomer and Mrs. Johnson and son. ot Lafayette Honorable mention should be made of "Grandma” Morgan, who. was unable to be present probably on qccount of the infirmities of age. she being 92; also of Mrs. A. Dayton, the next In point ol years, she being 78. Dr. Dayton was a surgeon in the navy at the time of the war and Mrs. Dayton hoisted the first Union Flag after war was declared, at Chih icothe, Mo.. after which they had to flee for their Hyes. ... .a_. -