The Washington times., 1915-09-29

Next IN line rooe TWO troops OF the
Fifth Cavalry and a battery of the
Third Artillery. from Fort Myer. com
mandel nv Col. Wilbur Wilder. and tho
District militia. beaded by Gen. ". 4,
Harvey. stalwart, erect soldiers, Of to-
day yisualizing what the Grand Army
OF the Republic was yesterday. Sons
Of Veterans and grandsons Of veterans.
your!g men. youths, and mere boys
formed the official escort for the ..
A. r. column.
the seniority Of the posts: Illinois by
reason Of having been the birthplste
of the G A. R.. In 1866. and having or
yahized the first post. headed the COL
tmn. with the Department of the Po-
t"mac. with headquarters In the Ma
tional Capital. bringing up at the end
Of the line, because of its being the en-
tertaining department.
state by state they file by in soldier
ly columns headed by the same drum
and fife corps or bands which led them
into battle. In the ranks one all but
sees the forms Of Sherman. Meade.
sheridan. Hancock. and Logan. the dar-
ins and dashins commanders who
led them triumphant and laurel
, crowned. up Pennsylvania avenue
when 1t was dirt road.
In the line rides the one of the two
, ed his commaad rs it n arched In grand
review fifty years ago. He Ia Gen:
! James II. Wilson, of Delaware. still
erect. still a soldier. still commander
and still recipient Of the nation .
homage.
The various State delegations in the
line wear a variety of uniforms and
headgear. but the blue of the Union
| army predominates. and Pinned above
! the heart of the veterans is the bronze
! ure among treasures to the surviving
warriors. because 1T is badge of
Demonstration follows demonstration tic,
Of march. bowing as the Stars and
Stripes are waved by tots. pretty girls.
and other hosts of admirers. This pa
rade. lige the grand review. is one con-
tinuous ovation to the men who offered
up their lives that the Union might be
preserved.
The Avenue was roped off 10
keep back the crowds. but the greatly
augmented police force experienced
difficulty in keeping out It, of i, the
sands upon thousands who thronged
the sidewalks All the Grandstands
were crowded to their CAPACITIES. every
available store. hotel. and office build
ing window was packed with specta-
tcrs anxious to wave salute to the
marching survivors.
Washington has paid tribute to many
bands Of marchers, but no such ovation
was ever accOrded any OF tneill as was
given the Grand Army of the Republ!:'
History was made TODAY, and Wed
nesday. September %. will be indeiblr
marked upon the minds Of the veterans
so long as they may be spared and Of
the great multitude which honored
them with its cheers and hand clapping
and its flag waving.
Inspiring beyond words, the parade
has it's pathetic side, and together with
the patriotic recollections will be writ
ten memories of sorrow. At the end of
the parade. out of their proper rank and
place because of infirmities, ride the
disabled veterans, many of whom carr
in their bodies today bullets received m
battle half a century ago. There are
those who lost one or both legs on tho
field of carnage, those who have met
with accidents since the close of tho
war. and those whose feet have heca
chaind bv time. They are just as in
spring. just as symbolical of the pa
triotism of yesterday and today as their
more fortunate brethren. and they
bring forth cheers as well as tears