The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-04-19
That the Nation is United in Present
Conflict Was Demonstrated Fully
at Big Celebration.

By far the greatest pageant of any
kind ever seen in Minot was the
"Wake-Up America" parade which
toodk place at o'clock this afternoon.
1t is estimated that between four and
five thousand people participated in
the soul-stirring event. Coming as it
did on the anniversary of the Battle
Of Lexington, the patriotic spirit was
stirred in the hearts of the thousands
who participated in and witnessed the
exhibition as never before. Old tim
ers were reminded of the days of 81
and many who participated in the
thrilling events of those times, took a
prominent part in today's parade.
At an early hour in the afternoon
the streets were filled with enthusiast
tic people, thousands of visitors COM
ing in from the countryside and sur
rounding cities. The day broke fair
and by noon the mud had dried. The
entire city had taken on a gala ap-
pearance, nearly every home in Minot
and every business house being dec
Grated with the Stars and Stripes
Hundreds of streamers carrying flags
had been strung across the streets.
The parade, which was formed un-
der the direction of Major E. S. Per
son, the marshal, was nearly mile
long and it required forty minutes to
pass given point.
Patriotic organizations, civic bodies,
labor unions, fraternal orders, Red
Cross societies, the militia, all joined
in this patriotic celebration in a man
ner that would dispel any idea that the
Northwest is not patriotic and ready
to fight for Uncle Sam, if there ever
happened to be any such opinion All
business and public buildings were
closed for the afternoon and the entire
city united in this greatest of celebra-
tions.
Had the parade been strung out as
parades usually are it would have been
several miles long. The Stars and
Stripes were to be seen everywhere
Major Person and Lieut.. A. f. Whit
ney, the Adjutant, headed the parade
followed by the color bearers.
The flags of the United States, the
Union Jack of Great Britain and the
flag Of bleeding France were carried
side by side at the head of the pro-
cession, and as they f1oated to the
breezes they became intertwined as
are the hearts of these nations now
fighting for democracy.
The music was furnished by the
Knights of Pythias band, which organ
ization was followed by the Civil War
veterans. There were fifty of the old
veterans in the line of march and de-
spite their advanced years, they all
marched thruout the parade.
There were sixteen Spanish Ameri-
can war veterans in line. They car
ried this banner: "We fought in 1898
and are ready to fight again."
Co. D, N. D. N. G. infantry, who but
recently returned from service along
the Mexican border, were next in line
They presentd an imposing appearance,
seasoned as they are, as they swung
along under command of Capt. Frank
E. Wheelon. The "boys" are expect
ing to- be called out at any minute
now and are ready to go.
The three organizations of Boy
Scouts, those of Rev. J. N. Mackenzie
Rev. P. w. Erickson and Rev. Mr.
Clifford, marched in one band under
the command of Rev. Mr.. Mackenzie
There were more than hundred of
them, all fine, manly, patriotic lads,
we'll trained. The Boy Scout move
ment is good one.
Abraham Lincoln Post, Sons of Vet
Grams, was we'll represented. "Our
Fathers Fought in 1861. We Are
Ready Now" were the words carried
on their banner.
Forty members of DeMolay Com
mandery No. 10, K. T., came next.
This is the first time in the history of
North Dakota when the Knights
Templar engaged in a parade which
did not have some particular connec-
ton with work of Commandery, and
it is possible then to do so only thru a