Soldiers Served a Big
Welcome Dinner. . . Following Inspiring Parade, Men Who Served in Great War, In
Civil War, and Spanish-American War Are Provided With Treat. . . Great Crowd in
City
Hickory’s celebration and dinner in honor of Catawba
soldiers and sailors was held this afternoon amid scenes and surroundings that
will never ben forgotten by the thousands who journeyed here to pay respect to
the men who wore the uniform in the world’s greatest catastrophe. The morning
broke warm and cloudy, with threats of rain, but that did not interfere with
the arrangements for the parade through the principal streets and the dinner at
Claremont College, where short addresses were scheduled and bronze medals, the
gift of Hickory, were to be pinned on the soldiers as they made way with the
dinner prepared for them by loving hands.
Probably no crowd in the city’s history—and old-timers are
here to tell you that there have been crowds here. It was a good-natured crowd
too, and the day promised to be one of real joy and entertainment. The three
bands—west Hickory, Morganton and Salisbury organizations—rendered music, and
most of the time during the parade, which formed on Ninth avenue and Twelfth
street and proceeded in three divisions down under the Triumphal Arch, up
Eleventh avenue and out Fifteenth street to Thirteenth avenue, where a straight
line was taken for the Claremont College grounds and the dinner and exercises.
Col. Joseph Hyde Pratt, commander of the 105th
engineers, missed his connections in Virginia and wired Major Geo. L. Lylerly of
his inabililty to be here. He sent best wishes for the men and others. There
was regret that the colonel could not be on hand.
The first division included the chief marshal, Lieut. John
Aiken and aid, Lieut. Gordon Councill, and automobile with Mayor Elliott and
A.A.Shuford Jr., master of ceremonies, an automobile with Major Lyerly, Judge
Councill, K.C. Menzies and High D’Anna, Morganton band, Lieutenant Cline on
horseback commanding the engineer train, three mounted buglers, first platoon
of troops, colored with armed guard, second platoon of troops, Capt. Wade
Bowman commanding Lenoir Battery E and other troops. Corporal Rouch, commanding
colored troops, Miss Frances Geitner mounted, carrying flag for honored dead.
The second division included Salisbury band, automobile with
Red Cross officers Dr. Nicholson, Chas. H. Geitner, Mesdames W.B. Councill,
K.C. Menzies and J.L. Riddle; Capt. H.C. Menzies in charge of ambulance with visiting
medical officers; Red Cross members in uniform; Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army
workers in uniform; banner of welcome carried by Elizabeth Abernethy. The
marshals in charge were Sergt.-Major Russell Yount and Sergt. Robert Benfield.
The third division brought up the rear and other soldiers in
uniform fell in. The division was headed by the West Hickory band and followed
by the Woodmen of the World, Juniors and other fraternal organizations,
decorated automobiles with Confederate veterans, numerous automobiles, and
hundreds of pedestrians. Sergt. R.H. Shuford and John Mauser were in charge.
The Big Dinner
Arriving at Claremont College, where the dinner was served,
the program was turned over to Mr. A.A. Shuford Jr., master of ceremonies, and
the festivities proceeded with interest. The invocation was by Rev. J.B.
Pruitt, followed by the Star Spangled Banner by the band. Then came a welcome
son, the word of which were written by Mrs. C.C. Bost and reproduced elsewhere,
by Mrs. J.H. Shuford, Mrs. Bost and Messrs. W.R. Weaver and J.M. Stephens. Mr.
Shuford presented Judge Councill in a brief and felicitous manner and the judge
gave the boys and visitors a glad welcome. His words are reproduced elsewhere.
Maj. Lyerly responded for the boys, and the burden of his remarks almost was
that Hickory is good enough for him. He thanked the people of Hickory and Catawba
county from the bottom of his heart—and from the hearts of the officers and men—for
the manner in which they had stood by them in France. The soldiers kept n touch
with home and their tasks were easier by reason of the knowledge that the home
fires were kept glowing.
Colonel Pratt’s address, in which he was expected to review
the work of the engineers, could not be heard, the colonel missing a train in
Virginia and wiring regrets.
During the dinner, which was ample in every respect, bronze
medals were pinned on the visiting soldiers, and following this event, the
soldiers and their friends broke all semblance of formation and prepared for a
day of pleasure. The sun had come forth and the weather was ideal in the early
afternoon.
Hickory had welcomed the Catawba soldiers. The county and
section had welcomed them, and soldiers’ day was passing into history here.
Town Decorated
Not only were the business houses and homes decorated with
flags and bunting, but hundreds of automobiles, bicycles, shifting engines
sported flags in honor of the day. The factories put on joyous colors and the
signal for the celebration was sounded by a score of whistles.
Long before the parade moved along the sidewalks were lined
with thousands of people. As the officers and soldiers rode or swung by with
stately tread, the throngs cheered, the bands added to the acclaim of the home
folks and many hearts must have beaten faster at the brave sight. The flag
under which the lads fought was given devoted attention.
And how those soldiers stuck together. The friendships
formed in terrible fields were cemented forever. This could be observed even
before this celebration, but before and after the dinner the young men were
hailing comrades in affectionate manner. They had been through fire together—they
knew each other.
No comments:
Post a Comment