Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-15
5000 WILMINGTON
NEGROES PARADE IN
HONOR OF FLAG DAY
Members of Colored Race GIVE
Material Demonstration OF
Patriotism.
CHEERED BY THOUSANDS

Material manifestation of the patriot
ism of the Negroes of Wilmington WAS
given last night. when. IN honor oil the
Flag Dav-the anniversary of the birth
of the Stss and Stripes -5OOu local
members of the race, men. women ana
children. gave a decidedly credltabie
parade. which was applsuded by thou
sands of white persons who llned the
streets over which Il passed. IL dem
unstrated two things. first. that the
Negro is a Ioyai American citizen. and,
second. that he has the abihty to DO
real things IN An orderly manner lor
the arrangement of the parade, the care
with which each division looked after
rs formation. marching and conduct,
and the personal pride at each Indl-
vidual participating, certainly impressed
these facts upon the onlookers. FOR the
good result of the undertaking the hon
share OF tho credit belongs 10 those VINO
headed the several component activities
whose names are given below, IN ADDITION
to the parade officers, who were as iol-
lows:
DIR. Conwell Banton. chief marshal;
Richard eeks. chef OF staff John K
Brown. ". H. smith Charles Il
Colburn. Rev " t Mcks-ick
Bowser. staff. Mrs Alice Dunbar Nelson
the originator Of tho parade. and Rev
Or ]. [ King, representing the colorcd
ministers Of the city marched with the
staff
incidentally two OF tho officers arr city
otHcialS. Or }antun. the chief marshal,
who i a member of the Board OF Pubic
Education and John 4 Hopkins. one oi
the division marShals. who IS a member
OF CITY Council. while city officials and
other prominent mon reviewed the parade
from the CITY reviewing stand IN front OF
tho Public Building, among those there,
bong MaNor John W Lawson members
OF Citv Council Members Of the CITY
Board Of Education. Ext Governor {.
Miller Hon Emmett j Scott. who :
the coIorcd Assistant | nitcd states Soc
retary Of War. Henry 7 Scott l.. Scott
Townsend Samuel II Barnard. George
Il Miller aud distinguished citizens ~
Wilmington and tho state Of Delaware and
other states IN addition 10 those mention
Ell above
MANY ~TKlKI~G FEATURES.
The pageant comprised many striking
features. all of which were patriotic
Many NJ the marchcrs carried American
flags. while mothers who have sons II
the service and girls whose brothers are
serving the coiors carried service flags
The colored Red Cross nurses were III
inc in full uniform. the school children
girl> i'm white dresses and boys in dark
suits marched with the bearing Of
Young soldiers
There were seven bands in line and
there was not one that Jailed 70 play
both "Amerca" and The Star Spangled
Banner" while the Musical Union As
sociation seated in q large automobile
joined in singing the national anthem
which received enthusiastic applause
Women and girls also sang
Three Hundred Years IN America
made us 100 per cent American, 1000
black men fought with Perry at Lake
Ere We made good at San juan
10000 black men fought with Jackson
at New Orleans, and numerous other
inscriptions on floats gave good testimony
10 the loyalty OF the colored marchers
4 detail Of policemen In command OF
Sergeant Crozier headed the line Fol
owing the marshals, came the Red
cross nurses under the leadership Of Mrs
~onwell Banton. who made pleasing
appearance.
SCHOOLS WE'RE RFPRES ENTED.
Miss Edwins B kruse, principal Of the
Howard High school. and School No. 20,
IN An automobile. was cheered by the
spectators a. she passed IN the parade
n front of the automobile was the sign
''She Trains Our ou1h for | ncle >am
Following her came a service flag with 8
great service star within which Was the
number 400, showing the number Of
Howard School graduates and stsrdents
who answered the call schools Nos. Is.
Is. 81. % and % followed. cash perform
ing some pretty stunt as they passed the
reviewing stand.
The first blood that was shed for
American independence was that OF
5 Negro read an inscription relating
to Crespus Attacks, the first man slain at
Bunker Hill Our Bows are Over There,
Others are ready 10 Follow was another
OF the Inscriptions that was expressive
of the optimistic patriotism Of the coloreo
people.
Among the organizations represented
were the knights Templar Monday Club
Elks, Odd Fellows and various industrial
organizations Among them were work
ers at the munitaon plants, the foundry
department of the Hllles and Jones Co.
the Joseph Bancroft 4 Sons Co, the New
Castle Leather Co and number OF othel
plants.
The Sons Of Veterans and member:
of the army in the Spanish-Americar
war appeared in full military attire anC
Continued on page Il