Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-15
ROCKBRlDGE COUNTY
HOLDS CELEBRATION
Great Military Parade md Stirring Ad-
drcsncH Are Features of "Pa-
triOtfc Day" In Lexington.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
LEXINGTON. VA. May IA great
crowd Of spectators lined the streets
Of Lexington to-day to witness the
military parade incident to the cele-
Grafton of Patriotic Day" Stirring
at dreases were delivered by former At
lorney-General William 4. Anderson
and President Henry Louis Smith, of
Washington and Lee University, and a
patriotic letter was read from General
e. w. Nichols. superintendent of the
Virginia Military Institute, who was
unavoilabl! absent on account Of his
duties as chairman of the Virginia
Council OF Defense. Strong resolutions
were adopted. p:edging loyal support
10 the government. with the declaration
of intention to furnish the full quota
q: men and money and to practice
economy. increase food production and
conserve material resources
The military procession moved from
the Washington and Lee campus at 10
O'Clock and marched through the prin-
cfpal streets, under command OF Col
onel H. l.. Hodges. headed by the Efr-
sinia Military post band. The parade
was led by the cadet officers as stand
ard bearera with flags of the allies.
Then marched in regular order the "
NJ. J. corps of cadets. rockies Of the
V. NJ. I. training camp. Washington and
Lee battalion of students, Southern
Seminary girls of Buena Vista. Red
Cross nurses. Lexington fire department
and Boy Scouts. waving flags.
Following the parade Captain II. p.
Corse called the meeting to order on
the court green and presented the
speakers. Or. L. II. Rowe. Of the
Southern Seminary, Buena Vista, made
the invocation. Colonel r. T. Kerlin
read General Nicholas letter. In which
regrets were expressed Of mis- inability
to be present. He urged his fellow
citizens of Rockbridge to prepare thor
oughly to resist the aggression of a
foreign foe. both by the conservation
OF resources. and the military training
necessary for waRinE successful war.
William 4. Anderson spoke of the
three great epochs of the country. The
first. the Revolutionary War, when our
'orcfathers fought for liberty OF con-
science and governments; second tho
War Between the States. a struggle be-
tween the North and South as to inter
probation OF the Constitution, both
sides deeming themselves right: third.
the present world conflict. between the
militarism of Germany and the democ-
racy of France. England and the United
States.
President Henry Louis Smith dis
cussed the question. why are we In
the European WARP" For 400 years
the governments of the world have
been struggling to free themselves Of
military despotism end to substitute
in it's stead governments of the people,
by the people and for the people," he
said. THE highest type Is our own
government France and England have
for two years been lighting. for this
principle. and America felt that 1t was
also her time to enter the war and
defend the very principles OF her ex-
istence. Because. should Germany de-
feat the allies. then tn, United Slater,
would have TO contend alone against
the great war-crazcd POWER of Prus-
sianism."
At the conclusion OF tho addresses
Colonel William Il. Shields offered reso-
buttons approving the course Of the
country which were seconded by Frank
Moore and r. BLrweii and enthusi-
astically adopted.
An automobile parade was held this
afternoon. with more than 100 cars In
line. Major j. ". McClung was chief
marshal. A drill on the parade ground
by the V. NJ |. cadets concluded the