The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-08
First Virginia Regiment Greet
ed With Cheers..On Return
From Mexican Border
MANY AMERICAN FLAGS
FLUTTER In BREEZE
Soldiers Now Quartered In the
Armories Of Grays and Blues
viii Be Mustered Out.
Colonel Perry Pleased

waving them welcome. ana martlai
music filing the air OF the quiet sun
day morning. the First Virginia Regt-
ment of Infantry was yesterday APP
propriately greeted on their arrival in
the city from the Mexican border.
Thousands Of people were packed
about the Byrd Street station when
the troop trains pulled in, and all
along the line of march "a the
armories many others cheered the
soldiers as hey pa ssed. and welcomed
I h eu with applause. Richmond
showed itself proud in ceie ting the
Virginia boys return.
Al the Blues and Grays Armorics
II required the services of number
ot police 10 keep the crowds from
breaking through the line OF Boy
Scouts and rushing to greet the sol
diers with a personal WELDON e. u
Has not long. however. before the
men had divested themselves Of all
military equipment, and freedom had
been granted them. Then families
were reunited. and friends and ac-
quaintapces took the troops IN charge.
Mothers embraced their sons and
children Of some Of the soldiers were
lifted hy their elders Ia order that
they might give father hahy hug
MANY eyes gltstened with tears OF iov
AT the return of the troops and when
the first excitement Of the arrival OF
the soldiers had subsidized little groups
could he seen about tile armories,
with father or hiE brother telling
those who they left behind or all OF
the wonders OF cactus land,
Firsr Train Arrives at 10 o'Clock.
The trains bringing the troops 10
~tlae--city arrived Ia the ByrdaSi1eass.
snt h.. 80 M A oh Il
lance down the road the 5rst and sec
ond Sections had been coupled togcth-
~. and this train bearing the Rich
f74and GsaNS and the Third Bl TALON
reached the station a-st. In a few
minutes later the second Battalion
came in At the station was en- berS
Of the reception committee. headed
bN Co'one. 10 Lane stern among the
ttacrs present being Nhai rmau ALVIN
Smith. John Kerr Branch. Colonel II
NJ Rnvkin. j. r, Palmatory, Ma jor
Alien Potts, HAY r, Thornton and II.
l.. Peters.
The BOY Scots. after the military
call Of fifteen strokes had been sound
ed announcing the approach OF the
troops. reported for duty at Eighth
end Main Streets. and in a short time
had distributed thousands % the flags
Ia the peopIe The Scouts with large
hnerican iaEs attached TO ther poles
formed an irclosuro at the station
keeptng the crowds back, anG kess-
pjch's Band. with tho Fife and Drum
Corps OF the Scouts. kept the air lively
with military music,
After the trains he'd arrived Colonel
STERN held hurried conference with
Colonel William I. Perry. commanded
Of the First Regiment, and the plans
a IN hc frft tao
for the parade were agreed on. The
cail was given, and the men in rapid
time had detrained and at the com
nand taken up position on Byrd
Street extending from Seventh TO
Ninth Street. and up Ninth as far as
Cary Street AS each company left
the station the crowds sent up a
mighty cheer.
Order of the Parade.
Then the parade headed by the
Richmond police started up Ninth
Street Two of the departments au-
tomobiles carrying Major Werner and
Captain Sherry came first. followed by
the mounted squad Next came the
Regimental Band. Colonel Perry and
his STAFF, and Companies | and II. of
Staunton. followed by Company f, OF
Lynchburg and Company NJ. Of Dan
vile. The balance of the parade was
IN the following order Fife ar Drum
Corps of the Boy Scouts. the Second
Regiment. Kessnich's Band ard the
Richmond Grays, commanded by Ma
jor j. Fulmer Bright.
The line proceeded up Main Street TO
Fourth Street, thence to Franklin to
Foushee Street TO Broad. down Broad
Street to Ninth. to Marshall and then
to the armories. The entire line of
march was lined with people. and on
every cross street between Foushee to
Ninth Street from Broad Street to Main
street was packed with automobiles,
most Of which were draped or decorated
with tho Stars and Stripes.
Due to the early hour at which the
troops arrived. DR.. Chandler. superin-
tendent Of the city schools, did not
order the John Marshall High School
Cadets to report to act as an escort
for the soldiers. The COMMITTEE had
suggested that the corps be ordered
out. but on account OF the boys hav-
ing to attend Sunday-School this could
not be done.
Greeted BY Governor.
With the troops standing in forma-
tion at the armories. Governor Stuart
greeted the officers of the regiment
In the Grays' Armory. This being over
the men were sent to the armories.
the Second Battalion being auartered
in the Blues Armory. with the supply
company machine gun company and
headquarters company. The First and
Third Regiments with regtmental
headquarters, were established in the
Grays' Armory.
Each! of the companies were widely
app1auded as they entered the armor-
les, but when the, Richmond Grays
----------------
lCoptinued on Second Pags.)