"Soldiers of the Macon Guards,

The pleasing duty has been assigned me of presenting to your this day in the name of the young ladies of Macon, this banner, selected by the fair hands and decorated by the exquisite taste of the fair donors...

...Most significantly too, Macon Guards, have they in their work assimilated in stars and stripes this fair banner to the one that floats on every seas as the emblem of our union...

... In the time of peace, I well know that its silken folds when not waving in breeze and sunshine over their martial ranks, will be preserved with all the care, the misery feels for this hidden and hoarded wealth. While if the alarm of war shall ring over the land, and you should be summoned from the pursuits of peaceful life to the tented field, its glittering folds will float in front of the battle, and never go down in defeat while there is a heart to rally on and an arm to defend it.

In the reception of this homage to thy merit, from those who know so well where it is deserving, let me emplore you to bear it worthily and nobly for the sake of the fair hands that selected - the generous hearts that conceived it.

To you, as the youngest corps of our lovely city, they confidently entrust this token, believing that through your organization has not yet seen the flush of manhood upon its brow, yet, that the promise of your youthful existence will ripen into full fruition, and that years hence when time shall have withered many a fair flower that now blooms the delight of friends, it will be gazed upon with sad, yet gently memories of those who, this day are the young and happy donors, and the martial and manly respects."

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