The Flag Presentation

THE FLAG PRESENTATION

To Ross Granger Command Spanish War Veterans

IMPOSING CEREMONY

Good Speeches Made by Col. Dean, Lieut. Pack, Major Granger and Capt. Hiscock

A handsome American flag was presented Wednesday evening to the Ross Granger command of Spanish War Veterans by Major Ross Granger, at the Armory. Welch Post, G. A. R., under command of Maj. Harrison Soule, was present in force. Company I, of the state militia, stood facing the gallery at attention. The Spanish War Veterans, under command of Lieutenant A. C. Pack, faced Welch Post on the other side. Maj. Granger stood at the end of the line in his command. After the usual impressive salutes, Col. H. S. Dean, supported by Major Soule, presented the flag. Col. Dean made a short speech stating that it was a great pleasure for the young and old soldiers of two generations to meet face to face under the old flag. He spoke feelingly of the colors of the flag and what it ought to mean to every man who had served under it.

Lieut. Pack accepted the flag on behalf of the command in a few well chosen words. He spoke of the good fellowship between the young and old soldiers and of the absence of any feeling of hateur of the old veterans over the young and said that when the time comes the young generation represented in Company I would defend the flag as the Grand Army and the Spanish War Veterans had done.

Three cheers were then given by the command for Welch Post and were returned by the latter and Company I.

Major Granger was then called out and said that looking back at the military record and the military experience that he and his men had gone through he could see nothing but good that had come from it. He did not regret his enlistment and knew that no soldier under whatsoever bad circumstances he had fallen into as a result of war would ever regret having served under the glorious flag. He gave good advice to the younger members of the militia. He told them that to succeed they must in every sense of the word at all times carry themselves as soldiers, and that they should follow in the footsteps of the G. A. R. veterans. He spoke of the help that the members of the G. A. R. had been to him and his company in time of need and that the fellowship of a soldier to a soldier is only felt by a soldier. He who wears the blue and serves under the flag only can understand this feeling.

Capt. C. E. Hiscock was then called upon and stated briefly that the soldiers present covered almost three generations of American soldiers and hoped that Company I would follow in the footsteps of the G. A. R. and of Company A.

Three hearty cheers were then given for the flag and the presentation was over.