Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-10-29
HONOR TO DRAFTED MEN
C0lored Citizens of Alexandria Give
Parade for Those Who Left for
Camp Lee Yesterday.

paid the fifty-tWo drafted men of
their race fine compliment yester.
day when they departed for Camp
Lee at Petersburg, in the way of a
big parade in which about thou
sand participated.
The procession marched down
King street about half-past eleven
to the city hall building, where the
drafted men and members of the
draft board were given the place Of
honor in the line.
Led by members of a troop Of
cavalry from the st. Asaph Camp,
and colored band, the procession
proceeded up King street to the
Union station. Nearly every one in
the parade carried small United
States flag and there were also a
number of large flags in the line.
Two autos, carrying gifts for the
drafted men and huge basket Of
On the arrival at the depot, Rev.
w. H. r. Powell, pastor of the
Alfred street Baptist church, spoke
as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
War is necessary Jesus Christ
said, 81 came not to send peace up
on the earth, but sword" In the
establishment of great and import
ant principles, principles that mean
the most to mankind, it is often
necessary to introduce them through
the medium of the sword. After
their establishment, they are fire.
quently challenged and it becomes
absolute necessary to defend them
1t is the recognized duty of every
nation to defend itself; to defend
the sacred and christian principles
upon which it's government rests,
against the unscrupulous attacts OF
a willful enemy-a duty which II !
,ssyes itself and each of it's citizens.
'We,,~as race, are a part OF
great republic, great natron,
GREAT government. We are often
wont to refer to Africa as our home.
But we have but one home-the
United States of America; but one
f,ar-the Stars and Stripes. Our re-
,,t;on to Africa consists in the his
torieal past. Our first duty, :s.to this
government. We are American Cltl'
yens and share equally the resPon-
s;b;,itv of making: this government
safe and great. =
As u nation we ind ourselves, IN
4he midst of great crisis, now IN the
midst of national war and danger II
i the. unouestionable duty Of each
element. in the citizenship OF any
nation to do it's part, to contribute
rs share. Here is our contrioutioi
from this county and city-these
fifty-three.- strong, healthy young.
men. They are our sacrifice upon our
nations altar.
yonnp men. we. cannot go. You
are to represent us! But II you are
to represent US, you can do so only
when YOU are brave in danger, loyal
TO YOUR flag, faithful in every known
duty. obedient to every command
and filled with enthusiastic patriotism
We are proud of the history Of our
,.oce and of the record Of our SOL
diers of .the past. | charge yoq, 40
not disgrace it! Bat we have faith IN
Syou and in your uprightness. AS you
tthus go forth to answer a ma
t;on,s call, to the front, to duty, TO
death. and glory, let me assure you
of loving remembrance, undying con-
! fdence of earnest prayers and en-
| ,dcavers for you and for those whom
Won leave behind. And may the 1oo
of battle ever protect you from the
dangers to which you are to oe hehce-
forward subjected.
The men left on the 1916 tram IN
4 charge of w. II. Russell who was ap-
\ no;nted leader by the draft board.
a luncheon was given them before
they started on the trip. A crown
of several thousand was attracted to
+ba streets and station'by the parade.
The names of the drafted men VINO
went are: Frank Byrd, Curtis D.
Taylor, Arthur Peeler, W'iiiam
Thomas, Edward S. Corbin, waiter
Smith. James Ouder, Robert Turner
Martin L. Hyson, Aaron Brown, Wll-
liam Dixon, Lawrence Baker, Dan
Beverly. John H. Weathless, James
u Hamm, William S. Lee, George 5
Munday. Gilbert Baker, Charles
r,~,oro Samuel Courtney