The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-06-01
Thousands View Largest Me moriaI Day Parade Ever
 Held Here.
RANKS OF VETERANS
 THINNER THAN EVER
Flaqs and Flowers On Graves of Soldiers Of All
 Our Wars.

ODSGEVG1lCS moria1 Day as never before on Sat urday In point of numbers in line the parade was the biggest ever held on a Memorial Day here and thou sands Of people thronged the streets to view the old Boys in Blue ana their escorts, on the parade to and from Seaside park. It was the most general observance or the day known here since the first Memorial Day parade in 1869. In point of numbers the parade was the longest held here on Memorial Day
 Tt was an ideal day. Although the sky was Iowery and overcast until noon. with the first beat of the drums which announced that the old vet erans had started for their place in the line of formation, the sun shone forth bright and clear and from that time until dusk not a cloud obscured the sky The sun was warm but there was a breeze stirring all the time and it was a perfect day to march.
 There were not so many horsemen in the parade as usual but there were m ore rnarchers. Early in the morn ing details of Grand Army Men, Sons of Veterans and boy scouts, visited every cemetery in the city and placed flowers on the graves of the soldier dead of every war. The Grand Army men make it a practice to put flags and flowers on the graves of all veter- ans no matter what war they fought
 The Ladies of. the G. R. during the day held a service for those W no died at sea and scattered flowers 1n the harbors as tribute to tnelr memory Long before the hour set for the parade most of the members of Elias Howe Jr.ss Post. No 5, c.. A. R.. who were to march were gath cred at their hall in Main St
 There as usual before the parade
 L1. O ra and swapped "reminiscences of the days when they were young and following the flag.
 Most of the veterans are now pasI the time when they can perform man uaI labor and Memorial day has come to be the one big event of the year. ear,
 ssWen. wonder how many or us will be left to make this march next year., is remark passed by most everyone of them at the finish of the parade each succeeding year.
 Time was when Elias Howe. Jri,. Fost t's could muster more than 250 for the march to the park and back, but Sat urday less than 40 were in the line. Many looked as if to march was Tn deed an effort but they trudged brave ly along with the Spanish War .Veter- ans the Sons of veterans and the number Of spanish War veterans in line this year was rather smaller than usual.
 A troop of boy scouts met the vet erans when their division Of the par Hade formed in Cannon street. They Bow Scouts carried canteens of water and camp chairs. They accompanied the veterans on the march to the -park and back and whenever a Grand Army man wished drink they were ready with the eanteens. On a halt they had the camp chairs for them to sit on
 Franklin Bartlett camp, No. Il, Sons Of veterans, had 96 members in line, the largest number of Sons of Veter- ans who ever paraded here on Memor- Hial Day Commander M. B. Grifin was in command of the camp and he walked ahead. On either side of him were W H. Hart and Attorney Paul L. Miller, members of the camp coun- ciL Beside the color bearer walked two erandsons of veterans, Walter Moore. son Of Walter Moore; and Rich ard S. Kane, son of Judge Patrick Kane.
 first commanded by Senior Command CT ForIa L. Chapman The latter car ried a. canei which. his father, Abram Chapman cut in Virginia during the war and sent to his son at home Mr Chapman's father served in a Massachusetts regiment
 Joseph Freyler, son of Captain Frey Ter, of the fire department. rode 9 milk white pony as aid to Thomas B. Cook. the marshall of the Grand Army di- vision. MT. Cooks son also rode as his aid.
 The police detail that marched in the parade never looked finer The. Wheeler 6 wilson band furnished nau- sic Supt. Eugene Birmingham rode a black charger and behind him march ed four companies of patrolmen un-i der command Of three captains and two lieutenants. Capt. William An derson commanded Co. A: Capt. John H. Redgate, Co., B; Capt. John H. Re. gan Go. D. and Lieut.. Charles N. suckley, Co. D, and Lieut.. Garry P. Sanger, Go. E..
 Grand Marshall Francis M Wilder made a fine appearance mounted on a. roan charger His chief of staff was Major Louis J. Hermann of the Coast Artillery corps and under the direction of this capable and efficient officer the parade moved on time and there were no breaks in it. Captain F. J. Breek- bill was marshall of the first division in which marched the Coast Artillery companies Thes local battalion was commanded by Capt. A. c. Bennett and made the best appearance the mill tia has presented in wears.
 With them marched the Third Divis- ion Naval Reserves who had for their guests the division from New Haven. An unusually large number of com panies of Boys Brigade and Boy Scouts were in the parade this year and they made a handsome appear ance.
 The Hibernian Rifles and svoodnen of the World, the colored Knights of Pythias did not march this year. The U. S. Volunteer Life Saving corps was in line with their mascot. a handsome collie dog.
 Major General William Bernhard f,i the Boys Brigade David CrossIey, commanded Howe post. Former Com mander-in-Chief Alfred B. Beers of the Grand. Army and former Adjutant- General Henry J. Seeley marched side by side at the, head of the veterans. Judge Beers was marshal of the first Mem orial Day parade held in Bridge l port. J. H. CrossleV comma nded the