Catawba County's Reception to Honor All Soldiers, White and Colored, Feb. 22, 1919

From the Hickory Daily Record, Feb. 22, 1919

Plans for Reception of All Catawba Soldiers, White or Colored, To Be Included in Grand Entertainment

Plans for giving all Catawba county soldiers, white and colored, a great welcome some time soon were discussed at a largely attended meeting at the Chamber of Commerce last night and a central committee was named to work out the details. While Hickory citizens will be hosts to the returning veterans, including soldiers who enlisted in old Company A from other counties, the rest of the county will be invited to join in the recognition service, and contributions will be accepted form all persons who may care to have a part in the feast.

Never before in the history of Hickory was enthusiasm greater than at the meeting last night, and discussion centered around doing the honors in a style to show the boys, whether they went across and faced the Hun or got to farther than a training camp, that the home folks were with them. The plan calls for a minimum reception fund of $2,500 and provide for entertaining visiting soldiers in the homes of the people.

Mr. Hugh D’Anna, chairman of the general committee, opened the meeting and Dr. W.H. Nicholson motioned that a central committee be accepted to work out details and appoint committees to help in the preparations: K.C. Menzies, chairman; Dr. W.H. Nicholson, Walker Lyerly, C.H. Geitner, Mrs. W.B. Councill and Hugh D’Anna, the latter ex-officio member.

The whole town is expected to be decorated, residences and all, and Mr. D.T. Applegate was asked about flags and bunting. He said that he had bought a lot of flags and bunting, on which he would not make a cent of profit but would sell at actual cost. A decoration committee was named to consist of N.W. Clark, Geo. B. Bisanar and R.E. Martin, and this committee is to see that a triumphal arch or other symbols are erected for the heroes.

While it was not possible to say when the reception would be held, it was decided to give it shortly after the arrival of Co. A, 105^th engineers, the soldiers here before its arrival forming an escort on horses under Capt. B.B. Blackwelder. Provision also was made for taking care of the families of soldiers who come to Hickoiry on that day, and Mr. J.W. Shuford is chairman of the automobile committee, which will see that all relatives are included in the parade. Other features of the parade include bands, Red Cross, fraternal organizations, school children, Lenoir College cadets, the home guards and other organizations.

The central committee will appoint a committee to proceed to Charleston or the port of landing to inform the soldiers that Hickory and Catawba county are awaiting their pleasure, and at the suggestion of Judge W.B. Councill, this committee will be as large as there are men and women who care to go.

Of course it was impossible to outline more than the details of the recognition service, leaving the larger questions open until it is known when the soldiers will return, but the tentative program calls for a general welcome, with A.A. Shuford Jr. as master of ceremonies, and provision for all soldiers and their families. The colored Red Cross will be invited to cooperate and it will serve the colored troops at separate table immediately after the exercises. It is planned to have a short address by Judge Councill and probably others and to furnish vocal and instrumental music for the evening.

The meeting was unanimous in agreeing that the celebration should include the whole county and Newton, Conover, Claremont, Maiden, Long Island and all towns and precincts will be invited to take a hand. The canvass for funds will be confined to Hickory, but if the good people in the county wish to help, their contributions will be accepted gladly.

When Newton has its general reception as has been planned, Hickory will join hands and help to make that another great event.

It was the feeling of the meeting that the whole county ought to be on its toes, and all hands should be outstretched in a welcome that will include every man who went to camp, white or colored.

In order to make it perfectly plain that all soldiers of the county are to be included in the recognition service, the Record repeats the statement. Let it be clearly understood that the welcome will be for all. That was the unanimous sense of the men and women present last night. And that it will be.

Those present included Geo. Baily, Dr. F.C. Longaker, Walker Lyerly, B.B. Blackwelder, Rev. S.B. Stroup, J.W. Shuford, Mrs. K.C. Menzies, Mrs. J.L. Riddle, Mrs. Geo. Yoder, Mrs. W.B. Councill, K.C. Menzies, Dr. W.H,. Nicholson, Rev. W.W. Bradshaw, A.K. Joy, Judge Councill, D.T. Applegate, Geo. E. Bisinar, L.F. Abernethy, Hugh D’Anna, Rev. W.R. Bradshaw, R.E. Martin Geo. S. Watson, J.A. Martin, Frank A. Henderson, Tom Pruitt, W.A. Rudasill, L.L. Moss, J.H.P. Cilley and others.