240
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
to him of vouchers approved by the
supervisor of public print-
ing and the adjutant general.
E. J. HOPPLE,
Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
EARL D. BLOOM,
President of the Senate.
Passed March 21, 1917.
Approved March 30, 1917.
JAMES M. Cox, Governor.
Filed in office of Secretary of State,
April 2, 1917.
SPEECH OF GOV. FRANK B. WILLIS.
UPON THE OCCASION OF THE REMOVAL OF THE
BATTLE FLAGS
TO THE ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL.
This is an inspiring spectacle. The old
flags have been
placed in safe repose in Ohio's heart.
Here they will be pre-
served to latest time, a memory of the
heroism of a generation
gone, an inspiration to generations yet
unborn. If these historic
banners could speak they would tell of
disappointment and de-
feat and privation, but also of victory.
Yet, interesting as is
the epic of the banners, more thrilling
still is the story of the
heroism of the men that fought beneath
them.
This capitol building has been the
silent witness of many
important events, but through its
portals in recent years has
passed no more impressive pageant than
the veteran defenders
of the union, who have this day carried
again the tattered flags
that they followed over the battle
fields when they were the
"boys in blue." In
affectionate appreciation and memory they
are still the "boys in blue,"
but a little more than half a century
ago, they were indeed "the
boys," the blush of youth on their
cheeks, and in their hearts the
enthusiastic resolution to do, and
if necessary, to die for liberty and
union.
The years through which they served
their country on the
battlefield were momentous ones for the
Republic. The years
that have followed since their battalions
returned under the
eagles of victory and melted without a
murmur into the ranks