The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-05-06

Five thousand persons, onefourth
OF Ardmore's entire population, gath.
cred Friday afternoon to take part in
the greatest patriotic demonstration
this city ever has Witnessed. while
the other threefourths liner the side.
walks, streets and parkways of the
city streets to cheer those who took
part in the parade and pageant
Men, women and children. march
ing through the streets, and later at
tending beautiful pageant and pa
triotic spectacle at Central PARK, dem
onstrated this city unity and democ-
racy, and responded to a sentiment
the like of which never has been ex.
emplified here before.
Thousands of flags, streamers and
banners, carrying out the colors of
the national flag red, white and
blue-floated on every hand Practic.
ally every person taking part in the
demonstration wore the coiors. and
from the first strains of the band
music, marking the beginning of the
parade, until the last lingering few
left the park at the conclusion of the
last patriotic speech the entire city
was united in an expression of deep
and fervent patriotism.
Led by city officials, members of
the committee and other notables. the
parade, first part of the demonstration.
passed through the city streets. fol.
lowed Immediately by the children's
pageant at Central park. And through.
out the entire celebration not an ac.
cldent occurred to mar its success.
Perfect weather prevailed, and every
detail OF the program was carried out
with a certainty which spoke volumes
for the hard work of those who had
arranged il.
Parade Moved at 3:20 p. M.
Promptly at 3:2O o'clock to the
strains of MY Country. 'Tis of
Thee the long, wavering line began
pouring into Main street, at Washing
ton, for the march westward and for
an hour spectators along the route
cheered themselves hoarse at the
beauties and surprises Of the passing
thrOng.
Sheriff Buck Garrett unanimous
nominee of the general committee as
grand marshal, headed the parade. Di.
rectly behind him rode Horace Ken.
dali, color bearer, large silken
American flag floating from the staff
resting on his saddle horn. Chief of
Police Les Segler, commanding a pla.
toon of mounted police and deputy
sheriifs, followed directly behind.
clearing the street OF all traffic.
Music for the occasion was furnish.
ed by the Ardmore Chamber of Com.
merce band, next in line. Only selec.
tions of a military and patriotic ma.
ture We're played
Mayor w. r. Roberts and Clinton
O. Bum, chairman OF the committee.
named IN the mayors proclamation
to arrange the celebration. marched
at the head OF the division devoted To
school children superintendent {.
W. Richards, the board of education
and other public officials and mem.
bers OF the committee were included
in this section.
As the delegation of school children
nom the the First ward started west.
ward, cheer after cheer resounded
through the streets From the tiny
tots OF the lower grades to the pupils
OF the seventh AMI eighth grades the
color scheme-red, white and blue
was carried out in detail. The small.
er children were dressed as fairies
and harlequins; others were costum.
ed as sailor boys and girls. Boy
Scouts and Red Cross nurses. Uncle
Sans ana Goddesses of Liberty. nc. I
cori.ng TO size and age.
Each Of the four May Queens ono
for every school, had her escort. and
marched proudly, with lighted torch
beneath the canopy which later dur. |
INK the pageant at the park. adorned
her throne. Twelve ribbons were ,t. /
tachel 20 elch side of the canopies n
ike number OF fairy girls keeping the
ribbons tuut Teachers employpl In
the grade schools marched beside the
children and succeeded remarkably
Wen in maintaining dissu'rp
throughout the tedious march
Following the younger children
were students of the high school. d.
yidoa into four separate sections rem.
res,u'ug the iour classes of ne
school They also were escorted byI
their teachers.
The Daily Ardmorete Loyalty club
staged one OF the surprises OF The oc.
casion Grouped at conveulea, IN.
teryais forty employees OF the paper
carried a flag 50 feet long ana q /.