The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-06-21
Veterans of Grim
War Open Annual
Encampment Here
Little Girls in Patriotic Costumes Add Touch
of Beauty to Impressive Parade of Old Heroes
Pageant Covers Third of lille
FLOWERS STREWN OVER LINE OF MARCH


G. A. R. is the badge of honor In
Tacoma this week.
The old guard has captured the
city and 1t Is theirs.
Nearly thousand strong, the
aged veterans and their wives and
daughters, have been gathering
from the entire state during the
last few days for the great an
nual encampment, which opened
at 8 o'clock this morning in Ia
coma theater.
Impressive Parade.
At noon today they rallied for
heir annual parade. Walking
two abreast, the old veterans once
more stepped down the street,
with many limp, in solid col
umn third of mile long. AT
heir head marched a platoon OF
police followed by Kelly's band
and the Reno Post drum corps,
and then came the spectacular
feature of the parade, 46 little
girls in red, white and blue, ana
adorned with gold stars, carrying
Tags and representing the union
IF states.
Girls Strew Flowers on Street.
At the corner of Pacific avenue
and Ninth street when the parade
was finishing the line of march
he little girls in the lead opened
ranks and every one of them scat
cred roses on the street until II
vas carpeted with flowers.
Over these the old veterans then
marched while the girls waved
their flags and sang patriotic
music.
The feature was entirely unex-
pected by the veterans and the
honors heaped upon them wilted
many of the boys who never quail
I'd at the flashing of the enemys
muskets and there was many a
tear dropped on the. rosestrewu
pavement as the parade ended.
The girls were under the direc-
ton of Mrs. Mary Joslyn, Mrs. l..
VI. Fisher, Mrs. Persie A. Gard-
ner and Mrs. Burke. Mrs. Burke
had severe fall In the prelimin-
airy march and was unable to con-
tinue in the parade for the line OF
march.
Following the girls came the
old soldiers.
Some Empty Sleeves.
There were empty sleeves and
wooden legs and crooked backs
and Scared bodies, but beneath
the blue coats there were as loyal
hearts as ever marched to battle
and the old boys were giving rous.
'ng cheers as they stepped down
the street in line.
Some Drop Out.
The veterans went down c
street to Jefferson and back mp
Pacific avenue making pretty
long march. Some of them had
to drop out before the finish as
the pace was made pretty lively
and they were hardly used to 1t.
At the opening meeting this
morning in the Tacoma theateI
Department Commander George
Boardman of Tacoma presided
He rendered his annual report
and other officials did likewise.
Candidates for Commander.
A movement is on foot for the
reelection of Boardman, but there
are also other candidates, ]. M
Wrestling and Lyman Banks both
being In the field.
TOday's Program.
Following the reports of offic.
ers this morning the G.. A. R. con.
vention received delegates from
the Ladies of the G. A. r. and
from the w. r. G. Both organfza.
tons are auxiliary to the G.. A. r.
Appropriate responses were
made to the greetings of the ladies
and the convention then adjourn
led for the noon parade.
The w. r. c. held its opening
session at Eagles hall. Ii was
presided over by President Eva
Osborne who gave her annual re-
port and other officers also pre-
SChtC0 enCiI WOEh.
The Ladies of the @. A. r. met
in Odd Fellows hall and Presi-
dent Lulu Shannon presided. or.
|ficers' reports and work by the
standing committees was attended
Ito before noon.
Campfire Tonighk.
| This evening the annml camp
IRE will take place at the Tacoma
|tAeater. Mayor Linck will deliv-
|ef an address of welcoxss, G. r.
CohEer will respond. there will be
a drill by the little girls, solo
by Mrs. Sloan, reading by Mrs.
Joslyn, violin solo by NJ. Turner.
music by Kelly's and the boys
bands, recitation by Mrs. Vance.
orchestra music and speeches by
Commander Boardman and Mrs.
Eva Osborn and Mrs. Lulu Shan
non.
The encampment viii close
Thursday with an excursion to the
exposition at Seattle, wednesday
the soldiers home at Orting win
be visited, apda now monument
will be unveiled.
Tomorrow evening the annual
reception 60 the Ladies' of the w.
r. @. and O.. A. r. will be held
at the Tacoma hotel.