Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 136, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1918 — SERVICE FLAG IS DEDICATED [ARTICLE]

SERVICE FLAG IS DEDICATED

UNION TOWNSHIP FIRST IN COUNTY TO HONOR SOLDIERS. . ■ ( One of the most (beautiful and impressive ceremonies ever held in this county, was held at Parr Sunday. Forty men from this township have entered the great struggle that now holds the world in breathless attention. There was a large crowd present and alt were deeply interested in the exercises. A large number of the Liberty Guards and the Rensselaer band were in attendance and did much to make the meeting the success that it was. A procession formed at the school house and marched to the Parr park. It was headed by those in charge of the meeting, the speakers, then followed the band, then the Union township Red Cross ladies and the Liberty Guards. A stand had been erected with patriotic decorations, including the pictures of Washington, Lincoln and Wilson. The programme consisted of patriotic music by the band and the singing of patriotic songs by the people present. Addresses were delivered by L. H. Hamilton, W. L. Wood and John Alter. Mrs. Harvey Messman gave a delightful reading. The addresses were well received and each speaker paid fitting tribute to the forty men whose names were to be represented by a star upon the service flag. . Rev. Downey, pastor of the Fair Oaks Methodist church, was in charge of the part of the programin which the forty stars were placed upon the service flag. He made a very touching address and the placing of the stars upon the flag by the mothers of the soldiers filled the moments with intense emotion. Where the mother was not present some other relative attached the star to the flag. If no relative was in attendance a beautiful little girl with tender hands placed the honor star. When the stars had been placed the flag was raised upon the flag pole just under Old Glory. Two ’ mothers with tears streaming down their faces gently drew .the rope which sent the two emblems of glory and patriotism toward the blue dome of the heavens. These moments were made more impressive by the band as it most solemnly played America. After the service flag had been raised the band gave a short concert and the Liberty Guards gave a short drill.

This beautiful service flag is worthy of the effort of everyone of the thirteen townships of the county. The forty-one boys in honor of whom the stars were placed and the service flag floated with Old Glory are: Lestie Zellars, Solomon Yoder, Earl Wiseman, Herb Bozell, James Hill, Hervey Myers, Jacob Davis, Stan „S. Brusnahan,' Allen Bowser, Orville Bowser, M. H. Myers, William Gundy, William F. Reed, Willie A. Potts, Paul Karr, Frank McCurtain, Daniel Leichty, Max’ Schultz, Leo Zellars, Alfred Longstreth, Charles Porter, S. E. Randolph, E. C. Henry, William Tesky, Lonnie Davisson, Leo Kruger, Firman Schultz, Roscoe Reeder, t Ernest Garriott, James Browhard,' Jesse Browhard, Grover E. Wood, Ross Wood, Wallace Miller, John Rhoda, Dudley Myers, John Kauffman, John E. Kimble, Edgar Kruger, Don Sutton and Jasper Williams. Great credit for the success of this meeting is due the Rensselaer band and the Liberty Guards of Rensselaer and Parr. The Liberty Guard organization should have the

co-operation of every able bodied man in this county. . The Red Cross women of Union township are very active and are doing a splendid work. Saturday evening and Sunday. they had made $125.00 at the stand erected in the Parr park.