Memorial Service for World War Dead, May 31, 1923

Memorial Services for World War Dead. . . Beautiful and Solemn Ceremony at Methodist Church Sunday Afternoon

Held Sunday afternoon, May 27th, at the Methodist church, presided over by Commander Dunlap of our local Legion Post. Beautiful decorations, Ascension lilies, roses, larkspur and small flags made a background for three small graves with poppies blowing over the crosses. One grave was open and into this the congregation as they filed by dropped their offering for “Overseas Graves Endowment Fund” and the amount, $36, will be sent from the Legion here. Chaplain Shelton read a memorial to Anson soldiers, and 18 gold stars on a flag represented the following names:

Lonnie Thomas

Lee Moore

Dock Williams

Callie Covington

Erasmus Deese

Ira Carpenter

Morgan

W.M. Luther

Charlie Jones

Julian Lewis

Alexander Morrison

Lonnie Diggs

Fisher Nance

J.B. Tomlinson

Eugene Ratliff

Fred Teal

Thomas Dees

Henry McRae

This is the list the War Mothers have been able to obtain so far. A most touching memorial to Mrs. Charlotte Bennett Dunlap, First vice War Mother, was read by Mrs. B.G. Covington, and a gold medal for the best paper on “World Peace” was offered to the high school pupils in loving memory of Mrs. Dunlap. This medal will be awarded next Armistice Day.

A number of ex-soldiers, among them many of his own men, listened with bowed heads and sad faces while Capt. K.M. Hardison spoke of the late Capt. Nugent B. Vairin Jr., who commanded our own Bickett Battery in France. Most touching letters from a number of his friends in and near New Orleans, his home, were read, and it is hoped that in the near future there will be some fitting memorial to him. A number of former members of Battery D, from Union County, attended these services.

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Anson County War Mothers wish to thank their friends throughout the county for their hearty co-operation with them in the sale of the 500 poppies which were sold on Memorial Day. A short memorial service was held in the Chautaqua tent and decorations were arranged for all the graves in the county so far as the War Mothers know them. The only colored solders’ graves known to the organization are those of Rob McCoy, Vann Gainey, Fred May and John Chambers, in France. Hereafter in case of extreme sickness or death the family of a soldier is requested to notify Mrs. C.C. Moore, corresponding secretary of the War Mothers.

From the front page of the Messenger and Intelligencer and Ansonian, Wadesboro, N.C., May 31, 1923