The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-09-21

that the congregations could be dis
missed in time to be at the station
to bid the khaki-clad youths a fond
goodbye.
Never before had we seen so many
people gathered together in Ocala.
Never before had we seen so many
automobiles parked in any one place,
not even on any of the Glidden tours
or in the great gathering of Confed.
crate Veterans in Washington City
last June.
Not only were all the people of
Ocala at the station but many from
nearby towns and from adjoining
counties were gathered there in large
numbers.
1t showed the intense interest that
is awakened in the breasts of our
people in the destiny of these stalwart
young men-the very flower of our
young manhood-going to a foreign
war at Their country's call.
1t is
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs to do or die"
The brave farewells of fathers,
mothers, sisters and sweethearts is
an evidence that loyalty to and love
of country are as fresh and bouyant
now as were displayed at Marathon
or at any time since and will nerve
these young men to go forth to battle
with the same ardor that inspired
their sires and they will strive to
carve their names on the scroll of
fame in as big and glittering letters.
The big gathering recalled the
memory of other days.
The scenes of 81 came trooping
before us.
1t recalled the time when Florida
seeded from the Union and the stir.
ring times which followed.
When the news came flashing over
relations the little city in which we
then resided was brilliantly illuminat-
ed with many thousand CANDLES,
torch light professions paraded the
streets and there was joyous ringing
of bells.
1t was a great occasion. and every
one was one the qui vive of excite
ment.
We recall when it was announced
that the first regiment of troops
would pass through and great pre-
parations were made to give them
fitting welcome and demonstration
The railroad from Tallahassee to
Quincy had only been completed to
Midway-half the distance-and a
crowd of us boys hiked to Midway to
escort the soldiers into the city
Going and returning it was a twenty
five mile hike and in those days good
roads were an unknown quantity.
We remember that they were dres-
sed in red shirts and were otherwise
unequipped as we were rushing into
the very vortex of war entirely I'M
prepared.
We remember little later when
the Young Guards-Quincy' crack
company-left for Chattahoochee to
embark for Columbus, Ca, thence for
Pensacola, that the same enthusiastic
crowd of young boys footed it all the
way to Chattahoochee to see them
off and bid them farewell
The distance there and return was
fifty miles, so all told we tramped
seventy-five miles.
So we recall that patriotism and
enthusiasm were at very high pitch.
Though it was costly in blood and
treasure we feel that the world feels
that it were better for it to have oc-
Cured for without it the nation could
never been the mighty compact ma
ton that we find it today.
So in the great struggle now on the
mission of these young men is intensi.
fled for it is to determine whether or
not democracy shall endure or perish
from the earth and If the allies are
successful they will be-the
blessings Of democracy will be felt
around the whole globe and those
who participated in it will be covered
for all time with halo of glory.
Company A left Ocala at 11:3O on
a special on the Seaboard Air Line.
which took the two Gainesville COM
panies at Waldo.
Before leaving Ocala each soldier
was given dainty and substantial
lunch, which had been prepared by