1888-05-10 Letter: William K. Spring, Post 15 G.A.R. to James W. Lovering, old flags removed, 2014.020.011-006

Subject: old flags removed -- Legislative action? Reply on back?

HEADQUARTERS JOHN A. ANDREW POST 15, DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS, G.A.R.

1151 WASHINGTON STREET.

Boston, May 10, 1888.

[upper left margin stationery heading sketch of man] GEORGE B. WHITE, Commander, Herald Office. A.M. ROBINSON, Adjutant, 154 Washington St. A. FITZEMEYER, Quartermaster, 14 Bromfield St.

James W. Lovering, Esq., Supt. Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass.

Sir;

At the time of the uncovering of the flower-beds and the myrtles, in April, and after the greater part ^of the brush covering^ had been removed and placed in piles, the writer in his official capacity as chairman of the John A. Andrew Post No. 15, G.A.R., Cemetery Committee visited your Cemetery, and finding the Post's flags nearly all standing, and with a few exceptions in nearly perfect condition after standing the severe storms of nine months, and finding on one route, No. 7, forty out of forty-two flags accounted for, reported to his Post 15, such findings, and called to the particular attention of the Post this fact: that, "standing at the main entrance to the Cemetery and looking at the Bowditch monument, at its

immediate left, stood three perfect and beautiful flags bearing the name, in [memoriam?], of the Post; that go which way you desired, look in any direction you might, the flag was there seen, a silent sentinel." Tuesday, May 8, another visit revealed this fact: that [underlined] the flags have been removed, with, to the writer's knowledge, only two left standing, evidently overlooked, one of which was in perfect condition, the other from contact with something, badly worn.

Will you kindly reply to this letter, stating the reason why the flags were removed ? The matter of future removals the present honorable Legislature will probably provide against; as it is a desire that no more such desecrations be realized within the State.

Very respectfully yours,

W^m^ K. Spring, Chairman Cemetery Committee Post 15, G.A.R. Please address at 72 Waltham St., Boston, Mass.

[pencil draft of letter, all crossed out]

Dear Sir

In reply to your favor of May 10^th^ inst. -- I would state that the workmen are instructed not to remove any of the flags ^or on^ [placques?] by the [party?] unless they find them badly torn or broken.

[draft of letter in pencil, all crossed out]

Dear Sir

In reply to your favor of May 10 -- I desire to say that the ^general directions to the^ workmen are to remove no flags, flowers or other memorials until they are broken or faded so as to be unsightly, and that ^late^ in the fall [&? indecipherable] I have frequently seen the flags torn & broken, tho' I am inclined to think that those placed last year were stronger than [the?] [indecipherable].

A ^few weeks^ before Decoration Day it has always been customary to remove the old decorations to make room for the new, and no objection has every been made.