The talking machine world (Jan-June 1918)

march 15, 1918 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD 43 The Columbia Grafonola was "First in France*' with our boys, and more ot them are going over with every transport. Call the attention of your customers to the jolly, rollicking songs of Al Jolson, George O'Connor, Arthur Fields and others, in the April list. They'll want to send them to the camps in France. There's a Columbia Grafonola in every Y. M. C. A. and K. of C. Army Hut. Columbia Graphophone Co. Woolworth Building, New York FLAG RAISING DAY AT EDISON LABORATORY, ORANGE, N. J. of that duty. Let it have this additional significance. Let it inspire you to subscribe to the Ceremonies Also Included the Flinging to the Breeze of a Service Flag Containing 362 Stars— necessary things which will help win the war Stirring Address by General Sales Manager Leonard a Feature of the Celebration Flag raising was the order of the day February 22 at the Edison Laboratories, Orange, N. J. Following the annual custom Old Glory was raised to the top of the flagpole on the roof of Mr. Edison's laboratory. An added feature of this year's ceremony was the flinging to the breeze of a service flag containing 362 stars, each star representing a man from the Edison organization who has gone into the service of Uncle Sam. The service flag hangs out of one of the top windows of Mr. Edison's laboratory and faces Valley road, where it is in full view of all passersby. The Edison Employes' Band participated in the exercises by marching from their headquarters in one of the buildings around to the front of Mr. Edison's laboratory and into the laboratory yard where they played the ''Star Spangled Banner" while Old Glory was raised on the top of the laboratory, and "America" when the service flag was run out of the window, all in the midst of a lively snowstorm. Thomas J. Leonard, general sales manager of the musical phonograph division, was master of ceremonies and made a most appropriate and splendidly delivered address following the raising of Old Glory and preceding the breaking out of the service flag. Mr. Leonard said in part: "At the call of their country in its hour of need and inspired by the example of their employer, serving the Government devotedly and as modestly as the humblest soldier in the ranks, 362 Edison men stepped into the service of Uncle Sam. This is a magnificent showing, but probably not more than might be expected from the organization which set a standard for all other manufacturing organizations in its response to the Liberty Loan appeals and which, through its individual employes, has contributed with corresponding generosity to the successive forms of wartime demands. "We gather to-day to pay a simple honor to our comrades and associates who have joined the colors. The day is especially well selected, for the principles for which the father of his country fought the good fight are the same principles that are to-day imperiled by the false doctrine of Prussianism." After some eloquent comments regarding the origin of the service flag and what it is intended to typify, Mr. Leonard continued: "There is another significance to the service flag. It is a reminder of our duty to the boys who are going to the front. Nothing is too good for our boys in the service. These boys, the chosen defenders of our flag, are willing to suffer hardship and every inconvenience that you and I may be permitted to live in peace and security. Remember that they are no more under obligation to risk their lives than you and I are. It is our country as well as their country— our responsibility as well as their responsibility. Yet these boys — our boys — are willing to make the supreme sacrifice to protect our homes and our wives and children — yes, they are willing to go through hell itself that this great and make the task of our boys easier. "All these will call for a sacrifice on your part, but this is the season of sacrifice and sacrifice is the least duty you and I can perform. Let the service flag on the old 'Lab' wall be a Raising the Service Flag at the Edison Plant on Washington's Birthday Large Picture Shows the Edison Employes and the Band Gathered for the Ceremonies. Upper Left Picture, Thos. J. Leonard Delivering the Principal Address. Upper Right, the Service Flag in Position. nation of ours may remain great and secure for those who remain after them. It is our obligation, therefore, to do our duty at home; and let the service flag always be a reminder to you silent reminder then of your duty to the boys al the front who are fighting for the honor of the flag that has never been unfurled save in a righteous cause — your flag and my flag."