Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-21
SOLDIERS WILL MEET
Grand Army Will Hold 1902 Reunion
at Washington.

Ottumwa has great number of old
soldiers who will doubtless be interest
ed in the create reunion to be held in
Washington this fall, and there are
several here who will visit the nation
al capital and take part in the festiv-
tiles. Ottumwa has two Grand Army
posts, both of which are in flourish
ing condition, and great interest is tax
en- by the old soldiers of this city and
county. so it is quite likely that some
from here will attend. as Iowa has al
ready reserved headquarters.
When committee of Washington
business men appeared before the ma
tional executive committee of the G.. A.
r. in Chicago last December and fo~,
mally invited the Grand Army to hold
its 1902 reunion in the capi5al city
there was no doubt from that tine bu'
what the invitation would be accepted
Nearly all the states of the middle
west have reserved their headquarters
and from the reports it would seem
that the reunion this year is to be a
greater affair than any OF the reunions
yet held.
West is Favored.
An attempt will be made to make it
especially attractive to the visitors
from the west. On their account the
encampment will last only from Octo-
Der to 1G This program will
permit travellers from the west 70 "a
tend the oncampment with the least
possible less Of time. \ week of six
working days will cover the entire
journey.
( The cncampment program is expect
ed to be the most attractive ever offer
ed veterans Of the Grand Army Mon
day, the first day Of the encampme1t
will be marked by notable public
meeting at which the veterans will be
welcomed to Washington by the city s
business men. representative OF its
patriotic organizations. members OF
/ both houses Of congress and the Pres
ident OF the United States.
Two Noteworthy Parades.
What might be termed an ancilli
airy parade will be the chief feature o.
the second day. The line will include
the whole body of the eX-prisoners o
war. representing the association o.
the Battlefield, the corps of the Sons
of Veterans. the District militia in it.
service uniform, and detachment o
!; United States regulars representing
every arm of the service.
The veterans will have their regular
parade Wednesday. and will march III
the same broad thoroughfares owe
which they passed thirty years ago il
the most impressive and significan
, review the world has ever, known
This will include the veterans OF thu
| G. A. r. who are in good standing.
r Washington Great Attraction.
Washington will be of interest to thu
) veteran and non-veteran alike. TIL
heads of the several departments ar
arranging special displays of the worl
in their bureaus. The Capitol and Con
gressiCnal libraries will be open da
2 and evening. Arlington and Mt Vel
non will be seen to their greatest ad
vantage with trees brightly colore
and parks still green.
Many Will Attend.
1t is estimated that at least 1880
. veterans will attend the Washingto
encampment in October. while the 10y
rates granted by the railroad compar
;. les will induce the presence of man
thousands of people from over tn
country who are not members of tn
; organization. Thus the city will be il
= vaded on this occasion by vast throns
outnumbering the attendance of an
previous Grand Army encampmer
here or elsewhere, and even large
than the average attendance of an
presidential inauguration