The Mena weekly star., 1917-06-14
VETERANS IN WASHINGTON
"On to Washington" the Dream of Long Ago, Reality-Dixie and the Rebel Yell ReS0umd in
 the Nations Capital.

l capital feS0unded Thursday with the martial airs of Dixie and the rebel yell as ten thousand Confed- crate Veterans, carrying their bal tie scared flags with the Stars and Stripes, tramped thru blocks of cheering thousands along pennsvl- vania avenue and passed in review before President Wilson and Vice President Marshall The hopes of a life time were realized when the gray-clad hosts, many bearing mus kets and each waving a miniature American flag, proudly paraded the historic thOrofare from the capitol to the White House.
 Escorted by a band of Union veil erans, commanded by Colonel Mvron M. Parker, and led by their com mander-in-chief, General George P. Harrison, and his staff, the rem nant of the men who wore the gray, formed in their old commands under their surviving leaders and with steady step and military de- meanOr marched in triumph while a hundred visitors and thousands of residents who crowded every vantage point cheered them to the echo.
 The veterans rose early to pre- pare for the climax of their reunion and an hour before the pageant was to move they began gathering at Twelfth street and Pennsylvania avenue. During the waiting hour. bands would strike up Dixie" and the thousands of veterans would wave their hats and flags and give the yell that resounded upon every battlefield from Manassas to Appo- mattox.
 The Stonewall Brigade. the his toric foot cavalry" of General Jackson, marched at the head of the army of northern Virginia and over them floated the battle scared emblem which they followed from the first Bull Run to Appomattox.
 Two divisions of Forests caval- ry, one from Mississippi and the other from Tennessee. dressed in their drab uniforms, aroused great demonstrations: Washington ar tillery," from Louisiana, the "squir- rel shooters" from Arkansas, and Mosby's raiders were well repre- sented in line.
 Men who followed Lee, Jackson. Stuart, Hampton and the other great leaders of the army of north ern Virginia, survivors of Shiloh, Chickamauga, Atlanta and the other battles in which the army of the west won renown, men from Texas, Arkansas and states beyond the Mississippi who served under Kir- by-Smith and his lieutenants. were participants in the greatest parade held by the veterans of the con- federacy for many years.
 The sons of veterans came just behind the veterans and following them were the 2,500 young officers who are in training at Fort Myer. United States regulars. the district national guard, cadets from the Virginia Military institute and ca dets of the Washington High school were among the 30.000 in the parade, which was over two hours in pass ing.
 Union of Blue and Gray
 The union of the blue and gray was typilled by a float at the end Of the line drawn by six mules, on which rode girls dressed in white representing various northern and southern states and two figures, one representing General Lee and the other General Grant, who stood with clasped hands.
 President Wilson was on the re- viewing stand more than two hours and in spite of the heavy shower that came up toward the end, ne stayed until the last man had passed Most of the time he was on his feet with his hat in his hand acknowledging greetings. Some or the old soldiers insisted on shaking hands with the President as the pa rade moved bx
 Well go to France or anywhere you want to send us, cried one par ty of veterans. Another company shouted. Gall on us if the boys can't do it."
 A sign that attracted the attention of the President read, in letters two feet high. Damn a man who am for his country, right or wrong it was carried by North Carolina vet erans.
 One enthusiastic old man m gray yelled as loudly as he could, to nell with Germanyr' The President only smiled.