State, and now, Comrade McConekey, in behalf of the aides on your staff and other Comrades, though not on your staff, who appreciate the good work you have done, I ask you to accept this purse of gold as a token of their esteem, and with it the love and affection of all the Comrades that have contributed thereto.

DEPARTMENT COMMANDER THOMAS J. MCCONEKEY: Comrade O'Hara and Members of My Official Family: I want to say that I appreciate this gift coming from my Comrades. It is an old time custom in the Grand Army of the Republic to present the retiring Commander with a gift. Tonight I am told it is gold coming from you, my Comrades. During the year, as perhaps many of you know, I tried hard to keep alive the spark of life in my Comrades and in their Posts, and if I have satisfied you in the work I have done I am more than satisfied myself. I appreciate greatly this gift of gold, coming as it does to me, not only for its intrinsic value, but for the love and devotion and well wishes that it represents. I thank you all, my Comrades. (Applause.)

(Address by Honorable George R. Lunn, Lieutenant-Governor of the State of New York.)

(Address by Department President, Woman's Relief Corps, Ella May Sherriff.)

(Address by Department President, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Emily J. Tompkins, who concluded by presenting the Flag made out of silk to the Department Commander.)

DEPARTMENT COMMANDER THOMAS J. MCCONEKEY: Department President, Mrs. Tompkins: I really cannot find words to express to you the joy that is in my old heart tonight at having you come here again, as you and your organization have for many years in the past, rendering the same service and paying the same honor and devotion. Money can be presented and pass away. Jewels may be received and lost or stolen. But, my friends, and you, Mrs. Tompkins, what can we keep and cherish in our hearts more than the flag that my Comrades and myself, as boys, were ready and willing to lay down our lives for, and not only on the field of battle, but for the last sixty years we have traveled up and down and all over this great country of ours, showing and telling the youth of our land what this flag is and for what it stands. Not only will this gift be cherished by me, but I assure you it will be by the members of my family, if I leave any behind. Again, Mrs. Tompkins, I thank you and your organization for this beautiful gift. (Applause.)

CHAIRMAN CROWTHER: I have the pleasure of introducing to you at this time the Department President of the Daughters of Veterans, Cora E. Gillis. (Applause.)

DEPARTMENT PRESIDENT, DAUGHTERS OF VETERANS, CORA E. GILLIS: Mr. Chairman, Commander-in-Chief, and our beloved Department Commander: I have a great many times felt proud

of different things in my life, but there is nothing to be compared with the pride that I feel right here and at this moment, standing before such a gathering as this and representing, as I do, one of the finest organizations on earth, the Daughters of Veterans. (Applause.) We are proud of our heritage. We are proud to be the daughters and granddaughters of the noble men who fought to preserve this Union. I want to assure you that as long as there is a descendant of a Union Veteran of the Civil War who can trace his eligibility back to you veterans, just so long will there be an organization of the Daughters of Veterans.

After listening to all the eloquent addresses that have come before me, there is really nothing much that I can say. I did not come to make an address, but I came to bring a little gift from the New York Department, Daughters of Veterans. We have worked hard this year, as we have other years, and yet we are going to work just a little bit harder in the future. Tonight it is my pleasure to present to our Commander, Comrade McConekey, to be used wherever the Grand Army of the Republic feels it is needed in the New York Department, with the best wishes of the Daughters of Veterans, a check for one thousand one hundred and fifty-two dollars. (Applause and cheers.)

DEPARTMENT COMMANDER THOMAS J. MCCONEKEY: Department President Gillis, Daughters of Veterans: It is very evident from the applause and cheers from the floor that there is a bunch of your friends here tonight. I want to say to you, my Comrades and friends, that you can hardly appreciate what is transpiring here at this time, neither have you any idea of the good use to which our headquarters can put the money so generously and nobly contributed by these wonderful women. This check is in addition to one for $350.00 presented by the Woman's Relief Corps at the morning session. Last year we lost 1,270 members of our New York Department. Our appropriation for certain expenses formerly made to us by the Department of New York, has been very materially decreased, and it is only by the help and assistance that we receive from our Relief Corps, our Daughters of Veterans and our allied organizations that we can keep alive many of our Posts, pay the per capita tax on our Comrades and keep our organization in this Empire State in good standing. Department President Gillis, on behalf of the Department of New York, Grand Army of the Republic, I thank you and your organization for this most generous, greatly needed and noble gift. (Applause.)

(Address by Division Commander, Sons of Veterans, Neil P. Cranmer.)

(Address by Division President, Sons of Veterans Auxiliary, Mate D. Makepeace.)

(Camp fire closed with the singing of "America.")

In Memoriam

COMRADE WILLIAM F. KIRCHNER,

PAST DEPARTMENT COMMANDER

Sorrowful announcement is made of the death of Past Department Commander William F. Kirchner, who died at his home in New York City, on Monday, October 8, 1923, in his 81st year. Comrade Kirchner was born in New York City August 22, 1842. He enlisted in the 5th N. Y. Volunteers, Duryea's Zouaves, in May, 1861; transferred to 3d Battery, New York Light Artillery, was promoted Sergeant in 1862, re-enlisted June 20, 1863, was commissioned 2d Lieutenant and 1st Lieutenant January 10, 1865, and was mustered out August 3, 1865, having served faithfully over four years, during which he participated in nearly every battle of the Army of the Potomac.

On his return to civil life, he became a member of the Police Department on November 1, 1865, and was retired July 1, 1901, having risen to the rank of Captain.

He joined Sedgwick Post, No. 11, G. A. R., in 1866, and on the disbandment of the Post he helped to organize Farragut Post, No. 75. After several years he assisted in organizing Aspinwall Post, No. 600, and was its Commander for several years. He was Quartermaster General under the late Past Department Commander, William H. Daniels. He was elected Junior Vice Department Commander in 1888 and was elected Department Commander in 1917. In all these various positions he was faithful in the discharge of his duties. He was also for several years Chairman of the Memorial Committee of the Grand Army of the Republic of the City of New York. He was a Comrade of the Loyal Legion of the Society of the Army of the Potomac, and was an officer of the Police Veteran Association. By his uniform courtesy he endeared himself to all his Comrades and he will be sadly missed at our various gatherings.

"Taps are sounded,
Lights are out;
The Soldier sleeps."

COLONEL LEWIS R. STEGMAN

Comrade Lewis R. Stegman, eighty-four years old, died at his home in the City of Brooklyn on Sunday, October 7, 1923.

Comrade Stegman was a member of McPherson-Doane Post No. 499 and was well known as Chairman of the New York Monuments Commission. Through his activities a large number of monuments were erected on various battlefields, to commemorate the valor and heroism of commanding officers and of various regi mental organizations.

He enlisted in 1861 in the 78th N. Y. Volunteers, transferred to the 102nd N. Y. Volunteers and was breveted Lieutenant Colonel in 1865. He was wounded on four different occasions and was under fire in over thirty engagements.

Returning to civil life he became connected with the Brooklyn Times and was special writer and editor for several New York and Brooklyn papers. Becoming interested in politics, he was elected to the Assembly in 1879 and two years later was elected Sheriff of Kings county. He became a member of the New York Monument Commission in 1890 and on the death of General Daniel E. Sickles, became its chairman, at the time of his death he was President of the 78th and 102nd N. Y. Regimental Associations and a charter member of Encampment No. 38, Union Veterans Legion.

PAST DEPARTMENT COMMANDER CHARLES A. ORR Sorrowful announcement is made of the death of Comrade Orr, who died at his home in the City of Buffalo, October 28, 1923, in his 76th year. Comrade Orr was born in Holland, Erie county. When sixteen years old he enlisted in Co. G, 187th New York Volunteers, three weeks later he was at the battle of Hatchers Run, Va., and was awarded the Congressional Medal for bravery in rescuing members of his regiment who had been wounded. He served until the end of the war.

Comrade Orr held various positions in public offices. Serving in the State Assembly in 1877, was Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly in 1878. He was elected county clerk in 1885 and served two terms; for 13 years he was pension agent at the city of Buffalo; he was an active member of Chapin Post No. 2 and was its Commander for over 20 years; he also was Junior and Senior Vice Department Commander and in the year 1900 was elected Department Commander. In all these various positions he was faithful in the discharge of his duties and his death will be deeply deplored by all his Comrades, and he will be sadly missed.

MAJOR FRED C. BARGER.

Comrade Fred C. Barger was born at Westfield, N. Y., September 9, 1842 and died in the City of New York, October 4, 1923, age 81 years. He enlisted August 8, 1861 in Company G, 49th N. Y. Volunteers. Promoted to Sergeant, 2nd Lieutenant. 1st Lieutenant, Captain and breveted Major. He participated in four major engagements and fourteen battles or skirmishes of lesser importance. At the battle of Fredericksburg he was severely wounded, his right arm being torn off by a shell. On his recovery he was detached from his Regiment by order of the War Department and was assigned to the Provost Marshal's Office, 9th District, New York City, under Colonel Robert Nugent. He served at the enrollment and draft office, Second Avenue and 23rd Street. During the month of July, 1863, he had a narrow escape from injury by the rioters who attacked the office and destroyed the furniture and draft wheels. He escaped through the bravery of th janitor of the building. Later President Abraham Lincoln appointed him Postmaster at Westfield, N. Y. In 1876 he came to New York and became a commission merchant and continued in that business until the day of his death, which was sudden. He joined Lafayette Post No. 140, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of New York, November 18, 1887, and was its commander for two terms. He served on the council of Administration of this Department for several years. He was generous to a fault and devoted to his comrades.

"He was faithful unto death."

COMRADE GEORGE A. PRICE

MEMBER OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION

Comrade Price was born in Broome county 85 years ago, and died at his residence in the City of Brooklyn, January 16th. His funeral was held from the Headquarters of U. S. Grant Post 327 on Saturday, January 19th, and was attended by a large number of his Comrades and friends. Comrade Price enlisted in April, 1861 in the 7th N. G. N. Y.; on the expiration of his enlistment he went west and joined the 9th Illinois Cavalry, and was discharged in 1863 on account of wounds received in action. He was a charter member of U. S. Grant Post 327 and was its Commander for two terms. He was for many years a member of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Administration and was always present at all its meetings. Comrade Price will be sadly missed at our Encampments, where he was always a welcome figure.