The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-30
ALLIES BANNERS
WAVE WITH STARS
and STRIPES HERE
Memorial Day Stirs Up Patri-
Otism in Topeka Today.
Elaborate Plans for Celebration
of All Patriots.
DROP FLOWERS IN THE RIVER
Impressive Program to Com
memOrate Sailors Death.
Cemeteries Decorated Under
Direction of the G. A. r.


The mammoth memorial day pa
race will be given on Kansas ave-
nue. today at 1880 o'clock if it is
not raining at that hour.
For the blue. the gray and the olive
drab For these Topeka celebrated
real Memorial day combined with
celebration OF Patriots day. Nearly
every business house was closed, pub
lie buildings were locked, school was
dismissed and thousands Joined in the
spirit of the day. The celebration
plans were perhaps the most elab-
crate and the most complete of any
former program given in memory of
the dead patriots of other wars. The
army and the navy forever was the
attitude of the onlookers.
For the first time in the history of
the day streets, buildings and vehicles
were draped in banners of France,
England Russia and our own stars
and stripes.
The official program started at 10
o'clock this morning when G. A. r.
] embers and civilians marched TO
Melan bridge, led by a recruiting Of
ficer of the United States navy, to
commemorate the death of the thou
sands of sailors who have persisted on
the seas Perhaps the most beautiful
part of the whole program, was the
moment when the Second Regiment
band played America" and THE Star
Spangled Banner" as the veterans
sailors and members of G. A. r. cast
wreaths of lilies, roses and carnations
upon the water. in memory of the
dead The river was just a mass of
floating flowers by 10:45 o'clock. 1t
was tribute to the valor of those who
persisted, many of whom died I'M
known.
At the cemeteries the soldiers on
the land we're commemorated- Topeka
cemetery, where 800 former soldiers
are buried in one single plot many
bereath tcmbstones unnamed, was
sea of red, white and blue. The plot
itself was a mass of flagship flags.
small flags and banners of our allied
nations Ritualistic memorial eXer-
cises, similar to those given in other
years made up the program Thirty
veterans marched among the graves
carrying baskets of flowers scattering
them on each grave.
Mt. Auburn cemetery, too, was q
field of blooms. Mt. Calvary and Mt.
Hope also had exercises in memory
of the 15OC soldiers buried in Tope-
ka National airs sung by old veter-
ans assisted by bands of school chill
dren and their parents stirred the
very souls of the spectators. At Mt.
Calvary six small girls clad in fairy
white costumes covered the graves OF
the dead. The services were in charge
of A NJ. Russell.
Rain Did Not Hold Back Crowds.
Despite the rain that began falling
at o'clock this morning, the ceme-
teries by o'clock were filled. Men,
women and children braved the
weather to pay tribute to the veter-
ans and to decorate the graves The
rain came down in a deluge all morn
ing, but did not dampen the ardor OF
Topekans,
Parade Is Scheduled.
At 80 o'clock the monster parade,
perhaps the largest parade ever
planned in Topeka, was scheduled to
start, moving from Ninth and Quincy
streets. Five local military units,
fifteen fraternal and civic organiza
lions, representatives of the state and
of the city. veterans of the G.. A r.
and four of their allied organizations
all were to march thru the streets car
rying banners of England. France
Russia and of the United States.
The parade was divided into sever
divisions. being led by a platoon OF
Topeka police and n motor parade OF
the officers of the G. A r. and other
orga ntzatiOns. The second division
was to consist of the Sons of Veterans
drum crops. followed by Mayor House
ficers. hen the 5000 school chill
dren marching four abreast were t.
march Nearly every lild was t.
carry a banner.
The third and fourth divisions were
the military units of the parade, lee
by the Second regiment band, followed
by the engineering company, supply
company, Co. X of Missouri and
Battery A. They were the heroes o.
the occasion.
The fifth division was the fraterna
and civic organiza lions, including tn,
Knights and Ladies of Security, Mod
ern Woodmen, Moose, odd Fellows
Fraternal Aid. The Maccabees, Daugh-
tiers of Justice, the Court of Honor
Red Men, Costume Tribe and Roya
Arcanum.
Then came the semi military or
ganiza tons The A. & S. F. banC
TO lead the division. Arthur Hargisi
civilian training company, the Rec
Cross, Boy Scouts and the batter
auxiliary from the Industrial institute
were included in this section.
The sixth division was to be headed
by Jackson's military band. and wa
Continued on Page Two.J