New Britain herald., 1917-06-02
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Memorial Day, 1917 took on a far more significant aspect for some people than 1t ever did before. With headlines of the most bloody battles since Creation ever before their eyes. with the sight of their own sons, brothers and friends in military cos- tune awaiting the seemingly inevit- able call which in many instances will mean the supreme sacrifice. the i'm portance of the day was impressed on the civilian mind even as 1t has for years been indelibly stamped on the minds of the boys of '61 and the boys of '98. And there was hardly a person in the vast throng that watched the exercises of We'd nesday. or those who participated, but to himself asked the question which time alone will answer: What or Memorial Day, 1918? How many Of the youth of today will have joined the ,innumerable caravan, having given up their lives on foreign soil that the Stars and Stripes may ever proudly fly" The elements were kind to the Grand Army Veterans on Wednesday and as the sun broke radi- antly through the clouds at noon 1t
 
 fluttered beneath blue uniform; Tor Memorial Day Is the ono day of days to the old soldiers.
 The Memorial Day observance or New Britain in 1917 makes an inter esting and marked contrast to the first Memorial Day observance in this city. Previous to 1868 it had been the custom of the people here to visit the cemeteries and decorate the graves of the fallen soldiers on the last day in May. In 1868 however, the city saw it's first observance or May 30 as Memorial Day. The eie- ments proved most unkind and all the exercises took place in deluge of rain. A big parade was organized and formed in front of the old Hum phrey House, located where the Park Hotel now stands. At that time the New Britain City band had just been organized, with the late Henry Guss- man as leader. On this occasion the bandsmen made their initial appear ance in their new. dashing uniforms. This regaua consisted of a blue coat. light blue trousers with a broad req stripe down each leg. enormous epaulets on each shoulder and massive high hat. After the parade the band presented a most woe-pe- gone appearance. The color from the red stripes had run and blended with the light blue trousers. The epaulets dangled like wilted flower and the high hats were a mess, as indeed. was the whole outfit The Grand Army men in the parade on that day were all young men. full of strength and vigor. back but three years from the fields. There were scores and scores of them in the procession. Each succeeding year however, has seen their ranks grow thinner. and 1t Is but two or three years ago that our citizen saw the last Memorial Day parade in which the old soldiers walked. For the last couple of years they have had to ride. though the line of march was short, and the time Is not far distant when these gray haired veterans will live only as a beautiful memory, when the last survivor will visit the ceme- tery alone on Memorial Day to honor his comrades of years ago-and then he too. will hear the strains of re- treat as sounded by the Great Com mander. All honor to those old sol diers of a half century ago.
 It IS SalO that IT the InuuIC1pal pO- tato crop in Stanley Quarter is success full 1t will be the largest single field of potatoes anywhere in New England with the possible exception of Maine. There will be fifty acres in one solid field. Which might be termed some agricultural achievement.
 The registration of all males be- tween the ages of 21 and 31 years on June is going to prove a gigantic task right here in New Britain and will try the patience and endurance of the registrars to the limit. Trial tests made by alert and intelligent men show that it will take at least seven minutes to properly ask all questions and fill out each card. With the hundreds of foreigners in the city who cannot readily grasp the meaning of all questions, necessitating the delay of, interpreting or explain ing, it is hard to see how the regis trars can hope to conclude their work between the hours of a. m. and 9 D. m. For general expediency 1t would be we'll for all eligible men to study carefully all the questions be- fore appearing to be registered, that they may respond more promptly.
 June Is but the beginning. What the end will be no one knows. or even <7o~a, to snec,,lofe