The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-13
MAKE PLANS FOR
FORMAL OPENING
Richmond Grays' Battalion Will
Celebrate Completion of New
Armory OH May %.
ISSUE 5000 INVITATIONS
Big Military Demonstration Will
Bring Noted Guests From
North as Well as South.

Arrangements for tho big military
demonstration which will mark the
formal opening of the now armory of
the Richmond Grays Battalion, FIRST
Infantry, have been completed and
May >? has bcan decided upon for the
affair. Invitations Will be sent out
this wceh, and 1t is expected that more
than 5000 out-of-town guests will be
present.
Major Lawrence 7. Price. battalion
commander. is now working on the de-
tails OF the opening. The new full
dress uniforms of Confederate gray
will be here and the ceremonies Will
cpcn with a short battalion drill. which
will end with some Spectacular feature
,: hen viii follow the presentation OF u
large silver cup 10 the company in the
best condition, and Of medals TO the
best drilled man in the battalion, ana
to the one bringing in tho largest mum
Der OF recruits in the past year.
\ reception will follow the prcscn-
tation. Among those who will bc in
tie receiving line are Governor and
Mrs. Henry c. Stuart. General and
Mrs. w. w. sale Mayor and Mrs
George Alnslic, Captain and Mrs. G ~
Crawford and Major and Airs. J." T.
/ rice IT Is also planned TO have
DESCENDANTS OF the wartime colonels or
the First Virginia Regiment present
The armory will I've handsomely dec
GRATED for the occasion. and the open
ing will end with Al blk full dress ball
on the spacious drill floor. During tho
intermissions refreshments will be
served. Each guest will nc given 4
handsome booklet containing photo
graphs and history of the battalion,
as a souvenir
old Guard TO Attend.
Invitations will be send To military
organizations ia tho North as well as
the South IL has already been asccr.
tained tina, tho Old Guard OF rhila-
delphia. composed of seventy members
will be here in full dress uniform. Tho
Seventh New York Regiment. the Fifth
Maryland Regime Mt, and g company at
Wilmington. y. Z have notified Major
rr!ce that they will send i rcpresen-
jptiOn, and II is expected that pracu
cally ali Virginia companies will either
attend rs 4 whole or will send repre-
sentativcs. All local organizations are
expected to take a prominent part In
the affair.
With tho large silver cup offered
by Major Price as an incentive, each
of the four companies OF the battalion
Is working hard To prepare for the
opening.
The annual inspection by the gov
ernment Will hc made on April % and
2S. and special instruction is being
given the companies on their drill
nights this month by regular army
sergeant detailed for that purpose. He
is also conducting a school OF instruc
ton for commissioned officers and
selected privates one night each week.
ON May II the battalion Will turn
out in the lakewood memorial parade.
y battalion drill will be held on May
20, and the formal opening OF tho new
building will he followed by the Holly
wood memorial parade the next day.
Battalion officers Will leave on juno
TO spend one week in camp at Fred .
eriCksburg.
Measurements for the new full dros3
uniforms were taken TWO weeks ago
and tho fittings will lie made next
week. The delivery of the finished uni
forms Will be made in ample time for
the opening OF ;he new building.