Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1908 — COL. HOPKINS AND MAJOR DAY [ARTICLE]

COL. HOPKINS AND MAJOR DAY

Rensselaer Young Men Acquire Military Rank by Virture of Merit in Other Fields. Two young men from Rensselaer are scaling the ladder of military fame in a time of peace, and while their promotions are not resultant from the demonstration of dauntless courage I on the fields of battle, they are none ■ the worthy because they are the I consequence of efficiency and they indicate that the men are worthy the belief that they would be just as dauntless and gallant in action as thej have been studious in peace. The young men are Alfred W. Hopkins, of Chicago, who is now a colonel in the Illinois National Guard; and Omar H. Day, who is Just completing his junior year at Purdue University, has just been notified that he has been apponted the Major of hjs battalion for the senior year. This promotion of Captain Omar Day, who has spent three years of diligent work in military branch at Purdue, is very gratifying to his parents and many friends here. When he> entered Pur-’ due he began military work at the bottom and he concluded the first year with the rank of a Lieutenant and the distinction of being one of the best drilled and best disciplined men in the school. At the end>of the second year he was made a captain and he was chosen because of his special fitness to represent the Scabbard and Blade military organization of Lafayette at the national convention that met in Milwaukee, Wis., and now he has realized his ambition to be appointed a major. Major Day recently offered his assistance to she local company In drilling the members and it will be a great assistance to the local military organization. Alfred W. Hopkins began his military life only a little more than three years ago. He was Identified with the Seventh Illinois regiment and after serving one year as a regimental quartermaster he was elected a second lieutenant In Company D, of the Irish Seventh. He at once became a strict military student and he was one of the most exacting officers In the Ilinois National Guard for the technical and minute correctness of drill. His ability was soon recognized at the headquarters of the regiment and he was made an adjutant and just recently he was prompted to the rank of colonel and he Is attached to the military staff of the governor of Illinois. Like Major Day he has taken a keen interest in the work he has been engaged In and he has never relinquished bis duty and this is responsible for his efficiency and for the recogniton ft'has received. It is gratifying to the frends of both of these Rensselaer boys to have their talent recognized at other places. Both are graduates of the Rensselaer high school, Colonel Hopkins being In the class of 1891 and Day being in the class of 1905.