Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-14
National Salute Fired.

Meriden, Conn, June 14.-A nation al salute from Meeting House Hill opened Old Home Day at the Meriden centennial, and twenty-one guns serv- ing also as salute to the Stars and Stripes on Flag day. The program of the day called for as lively and in teresting an occasion as on the pre-
 vious days of the week. In the fore noon the Connecticut Pliers and Drummers association held its twen- ty-first annual convention with q par, ade. In the afternoon the military parade was held with the Second Reg iment Connecticut National Guard in line followed by the First and Second Regiments of the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias. and the United Spanish War veterans. During the af- ternoon also the drummers' contests were held and in the evening the an- nual ball of the association will be the attraction.
 The morning salute in honor of the city and the flag was fired by n squad from the state arsenal at Hartford, made up of members of Battery A., Capt c. H. Page. commanding
 The drummers' parade was formed at ten o'clock and was made up as follows.
 First diyision-Drum corps from Merlden, Y. M T A. R. of New Brit afn. Glastonbtlrg, Pulaskii corps of Meriden. Southington. M. c. Bulke- ley corps of Hartford. flainville. reg mental corps of Norwich. Sacred Heart of Waterbury, St Anne's of Waterbury. Second regiment of New Haven, and Kennedy guards of Dan- bury.
 Second division-Ancient fife and drum corps class. American Grapha- phone of Bridgeport. A. s. X K. of Hotchkissville. Deep River, Liberty of New Britain. Grenetlier of Milford. Wallingford, Portland. Flatt & Read of Deep River. s. II. Comstock. of Ivoryton, and Lancraft's of New Ha- ven.
 Third division-AIodern fiute and piccolo bands Allen drum band of Hartford. T. NJ. Russell of Middle town. and Oriental flute of Stamford.
 Fourth division Drums without flies. Jewell Betting company of Hartford. Charter Oak of Hartfori and McLean's of Hartford.
 Fifth division-Invited organiza- tions. 1pth Separate company of Cathedral Fr Matthew corps of Springfield, Mas, Sacred Heart of Springfield. Fr Matthew's of Hartford. Red Mems of New London. Blue Ribbon of Bridgeport. II. G. Hubbard. of Middletown. East Hamp- ton. Derby. Moodus. and Befhel corps. St Mary's of Derby and Boys club of Meriden.
 Prizes were offered for the best ap- bearing corps in line. for the most an- cient appearing corps and the best ap- bearing drum major. No parade this week was more interesting. especial ly to the boys of the city. Parades of drum corps are a Connecticut institu- tlon. and are usually worth seeing. None of the street attractions of the week have given the crowds such an to make merry for the way the drummers. especially on the barrel drums. twiriers of their sticks and pounded out a racket. was won- Ilerful to behold. the fiferS too. enter ed into the spirit of the occasion and tune after tune was played with swing that kept the arplaudlng rrowds on tip toe. The drum majors swung and tossed their batons in ar fIstIc style. Most of the drum corps played familiar airs bur not the same air In unison so that at some points ,f inc line of march the air was in fumult over the variety of sounds. The trials at Hanover park drew ! big crowd and the merriment was In full swing early. In the evening the prizes. of which there were about a srnre were given.
 Al noon ft was estimated that i00.- 100 people were in the city and the treets were even more densely lacked in the afternoon. when the military parade was held This pa- sde vas headed by a squad of police md band. which were followed hy he Second Connecticut infantry. un- Ter command of Colonel James ,eddes of Waterbury. The militia presented fine appesrance and were Ippts suded all along the line of