The age-herald., 1898-09-17
Welcome Home :!

l "SioohS ifumS
 Today the city should be decorated up to
 it's fullest limit. Hang out every stripe and
 star in honor of the brave boys and faith
 full soldiers who are coming back travel
 stained, and bronzed, and strong in the practice and discipline of war, to the com forts of home-cooked meals and comforta- ble beds again. Welcome back these sol diers of the republic with flags and shouts and unconfned joy. Give them a royal
 homecoming that they will not forget as long as they live
 These boys who are coming home today 1 are the boys who responded quickly to the
 republics first call for help against foe | that was then threatening and dangerous | The call was issued April 29, and on May 1, | bright, beautiful morning, the boys of the First were carried away, ready for mus terng in and for service wherever they might be sent. They patiently withstood privation in Mobile, in Miami and in Jack sonville eager and ready to go on trans ports to the front line of battle; but such a consummation of their soldierly career was denied them and they finished their service in Fitzhugh Lees splendid corps. There ! is scarcely better regiment in the service. Drill and discipline in the hot sands of the l coast districts have been their daily task, and, as President Mckinley has said, they were as much a part of the fighting force of the republic as the men in the front line. They stood ready eager to take places in the trenches under the enemy's fire, and 1t was not their fault that the place of high est honor was denied them. They were &C., counted worthy of it, but the foe proved to be short-winded.
 But when a regiment does it's full duty does we'll all it is asked to do-what more can be expected of it? It was its willing camp, its fortitude in the face of epidemic and privation and endless discomforts, that we honor today, and we cannot for our own good as well as for the boys and girls who Will witness tlllo HOHiC-SoiiiiiiS' 'o 'NNSS good soldiers too much honor. Their en- durance and sacrifice call for the best we have There will not be today an official demonstration of any sort, but all this dis trict will turn out to give the boys greet ing that will be better than all the official welcomes that were ever devised It will he a welcome that the great heart of the people will enter into.
 One word more. The boys have come back to fathers and mothers and sweet hearts and friends, but not all of them by any means come back to their old places to occupation at once. The discipline of the camp has broadened and bettered their lives. They will be better workers hereaf- ter All of them will desire to become use ful, productive citizens, and right here is duty that every man for whom they served in Florida sands should take up, and to the extent of his ability carry out. Let every man do all he can to open up avenues of employment for these boys who stepped quickly into the breach, putting aside all thought of individual gain. But let us today turn out with band and banner, and give the splendid First Ala bama Volunteers three cheers and tiger, and the welcome that beaming, streaming faces can best convey. Fill the streets with people glad to give the boys hearty, en- thusiastic and happy welcome home