The Mena weekly star., 1917-09-20
S7 BRAVE BOYS TO
 NATIONAL ARMY
Polk County Sends It's Share to Fiaht for World Democracy-Fittinq Service of Word and Song-An
 Auto Ride Over City.

progress for months never came SD close home to Polk county folks as if did this morning when the eighty or more Polk county boys gathered at the office of the local exemption board t0 march to the court house for the patriotic program which was given in their honor All of them were on hand promptly at o'clock
 The line of march was taken from the boards headquarters west on Janssen avenue to Seventh street. thence Co the Maple street entrance of the park, and thence to the court house. The procession was led by Sheriff Finger, chairman of the local board accompanied by Mrs. Boyd Colman of Hatfield, whose husband was among those in the call. Then followed E T Wolfe as standard bearer and C, H. Davis and Wood ford Hammond with the drums. General J II. Hamilton was in com- mand of the boys. with Boyd Col man, Archie Met. Barron, Ben Wes- ley Matteson and James Walter Kirkland as captains in charge of separate companies
 Long before the hour for the pro- gram arrived every seat in the court room was occupied and stand ing room filled The exercises were in charge of Minor pipkin and very appropriately he announced "Ameri-
 ca as the opening number of the program. The national anthem was never before sung with such spirit land earnestness by a Polk county audience as on this occasion As the strains of the song died away i'll the supplication, Protect us by Thy might, Great God Our King and as the audience reVerently remained standing with bowed heads. the Rev. IF. A Park of the Presbyterian church gave the inVocation He touched the heart and conscience of everyone within hearing of his voice. by the tenderness. earnestness and deep spirituality of his petition for Divine guidance and protection for the boys who had responded to the counlrys call for those in au- | thority in our government and for 1 the fathers and mothers and others ! that are left behind,
 Keep the Home Fires Burning. sung by Louis Robert. with Mrs. R. l A. 'lomlinson as aecompanist, was spendidly in harmony with Amer ica, and the petition of the inyoca- ton Miss May Mcdonald, with Miss Gussie Mcdonald as accompanist in her solo. "GoOdby Broadway Hello, France" gave Q zest to the gathering that was foreibly expressed in the hearty applause which greeted her at the close of the song. Arkansas, sung by the audience closed the musical part of the program.
 Col. Pole McPhetrige, the Rev. w. L. Smith and Dr. H. C. Rushing, in their patriotic addresses brought messages of hope. cheer and encour- agement that will be helpful and in- spirational to the boys who left to- day to begin service and to be part in this great war for human free dom Then, too. their messages were helpful to those left behind, giving them ideals of citizenship which will make this a better coun- try to live in after the battle for worldwide democracy shall have been won
 Sheriff H. w. Finger. when called upon for a patriotic song. gracious ly excused himself and introduced
 Miss May Mcdonald who sang in his stead, using Mr. Wilson, Go Right Along The audience was dis missed with the benediction deliv- cred by Dr. L. W E. Long.
 After the program the boys under the command of Captains Coman, Matteson, Barron and Kirkland, marched to dinner quota of 40 going to the AntIers hotel, 30 to the Dickson hotel and the remainder to the Mena hotel. AL ? o'clock this afternoon they again gathered at fine courthouse 10 be joined by the members of the Red Gross chapter in the march to the headquarters of the local board for the final roll
 al. Aftar this roll call more than thirty autos, supplied by Mena citi- 'zens.- took the b0ys for a short ride over Che cily-
 The trip to Camp Pike was started this afternoon on train No. i, two special coaches having been provided for the transportation of the Polk county contingent They will take supper in Fort smith
 Those who answered the final roll cal were
 I275 Walter Eugene Gass Mena.
 705 Fred C. Harris, Mena.
 TITS Walter Lee McAlister, Graants- .7II James w. Kirkland, Mena.
 3T3 Douglas McDaniel. Cove. .48S Alonzo Clayton Cooper, Nuniey. 970 Jesse Burel Baker, Wiekes. .358 Oral Terrence Friend Cove.
 335 Joe Leftwick Baugh, Cove.
 G85 Riley Alston, Mena
 .440 Bluford William Joplin. Hatfield
 31 Robert Reynolds, Opal .65T Ode Oliver McA1illan, Board camp 530 Colonel Standridge, Mena.
 1g4 Joseph Daniel Whisenhunt shady. 424 Douglas OIen Dover, liatneid
 552 William Arthur Strawn. Hatfield. S6T Charlie Vince Lott Aoeana 1881 Arch Alonzo Ward, Mena.
 fo5g Elijah Howard, Nandervoort |T15 Garland McCurty Mena. 249 Jerome flanagan Fair, Cove