In a most beautiful and impressive service held at Trinity Church on last Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock, the remains of Mr. Perry A. Wilson, who was killed on the battlefields of France were interred in the family plot in the beautiful little cemetery. One of the largest crowds that has possibly ever attended a service in that community was present to pay tribute to one of the heroes of the great world war.
The first portion of the war services were from the usual Methodist ritual and were conducted by Rev. W.L. Loy, pastor of the church. During these services the pastor read a well prepared prayer, touching on the world war.
This completing the church services, Mr. W.H. Ruffin, chairman of the Committee on Arrangements of the Franklin County Memorial Association, made the usual announcements about the object and purpose of the Association and further announced the fact that on account of illness Mr. W.H. Yarborough, who had accepted the invitation to be the Speaker for this occasion, would not be present, but at the very last minute he was successful in getting Dr. W.B. Morton to consent to fill the vacancy and therewith introduced Mr. Morton.
Stating that he was proud of the boys that went into the service of their country, Dr. Morton launched into an address that for some time, in spite of the intense heat of the day, held his hearers with united interest. He said he felt more like congratulating than condoling, the parents of the boys who paid the supreme sacrifice that we and the world might have peace and freedom. He condemned in the strongest terms any one who would make the statement that these boys went because they were forced to go, afraid not to go, or went to save his own skin. They all went because they were American citizens and wanted the world to enjoy peace, happiness and freedom and to a work that Providence had set apart for them. In support of his statement, he gave the figures that showed that out of 2,200 registrants that he examined he found two who tried to shirk by attempting to evade examination. Declaring that our boys “went as brave men, prompted by the spirit of Patriotism and the love of home,” Dr. Morton concluded a most interesting address. Mr. Ruffin then stated that he had seen the list of slackers as prepared by the government and he found that there were no slackers in Franklin. All those named in so far as he could ascertain were negroes, who moved from place to place as their work demanded, and filed to receive their call.
The services were concluded at the grave wherein at his request of the family, Mr. W.H. Ruffin, in a most eloquently beautiful speech, presented the flag that had draped the casket to the Board of Stewards of Trinity Church, and Capt. Cheatham of Henderson made a most touching talk as he told about his battle in which Perry lost his life. The body was lowered into the grave and after the mound had been shaped and covered with a bountiful share of nature’s richest and sweetest flowers, a fire squad of Infantrymen of Henderson County paid the last military honor to its dead by firing the parting salute and sounding Taps.
A choir rendering appropriate music throughout the entire service which added much to make the occasion one full of honor and esteem for one who had given his life for us.
From the front page of The Franklin Times, Louisburg, N.C., August 5, 1921. If you go to The Franklin times. (Louisburg, N.C.) 1870-current, August 05, 1921, Image 1 · North Carolina Newspapers (digitalnc.org) you’ll find a nice photo of Perry A. Wilson.
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