Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-30
FLORAL VESSEL
FLOATS TO SEA
Naval Veterans Parade and
Paw Tribute to Fallen
Shipmates
CAST FLOWERS IN RIVER

Floating back in faint tones. the
notes Of a buele, sounded far out on the
Delaware River. told members OF the
Fhila delphia Naval Veterans Associa-
tion, gathered with friends on Vine
street pier. the last military phase of
their tribute to fallen shipmates had
taken place.
As the bugle sounded four sailors who
fought in the Spanish-American War
| launched the annual tribute of the Civil
War seamen--a floral vessel All this
was part of the Memorial Day celebra-
ton.
Three volleys fired by q company of
marines from the Philadelphia Navy
Yard signaled the sailors aboard the
poiceooat Samuel II. Ashbridge to lower
the ship of flowers.
With steps enfeeblcd by years, twen-
ty-tive members of the veterans organ
| ization slowly marched to a door on the
north side of the pier, in which the
services We're held, and hurled bouquets
of white roses and carnations into the
river.
Commander William G. McEwan. who
lost his right arm in the battle of
Mobile Bay. led the naval veterans
With him was Chaplain Charles w.
karsner.
Preceding the services at the pier. the
veterans, escorted by Marines and
United Spanish War Veterans. paraded
scheduled to move from Broad and Arch
| streets at o'clock. the aged marchers-
lac,
to assemble in the rain long before that
hour. Shortly after s o'clock. Com.
mander McEwan arrived at the forma.
tion point. Following him within a
| few minutes came other members of the
| association.
Spectators stand in Rain
Bands began playing at various points
surrounding Broad and Arch streets
Thousands of persons filed the streets
| waiting in the rain for the march tc
| begin.
The Naval Veterans and the other
| organizations to take part in the parade
arrived nearly an hour ahead of the
scheduled time for moving. The colum
did not swing into action until nearly
$3.50 o'clock. The company OF marines
was late arriving.
| AS soon as the marines reached City
| Hall, the veterans of the Civil War and
| the Spanish War fell into
place. The marine band swung into the
lead, followed by the firing squad. The
| naval veterans in automobiles followed
the marines. The Spanish War Veterans
| brouch up the rear.
Commander McEwaD was the honorary
marshal of the parade and Howard S.
Rahn commander of the Department of
Pennsylvania of the United Spanish War
| Veterans was the parade marshal.
Thomas j. Goodwin was his aide. Nearly
| 1000 men were in the column.
Automobiles were furnished for the
naval veterans by the motor messenger
service The detachment of girls driving
the eight cars in the parade was com
manded by Lieutenant Mrs. Sydney
I Thayer. of the Main Line division.
The parade was arranged by the Phil
adelphia executive council of the United
| Spanish War Veterans, w. ID. Widney,
president.
When the forward march order rung
down the column the long line swung
south in Broad street 10 Locust street
countermarched to Chestnut street
thence to Fifth street, to Market street
to Delaware avenue, to pier No. 10. Cap
tain Graham, in command at the pier
ordered a guard of honor line up along
the two sides of the column of marchers,
which turned into the pier and to the
upper deck. where a speaking platform
was erected.
Impressive Exercises at Pier
Commander McEwan introduced Chap
lain Karsner. who delivered brie1
prayer
Charles Stilwell, secretary of the Vet
erans' Association, read the names o.
six members of the body who died il
the last year. They were Allan W
Straw, John Cooper, jeremiah Thealon
John Mitchell, Peter Gerard and VIII
liam d. Hyde. After each name ant
record had been read, bugle and muf
fled small drum sounded.
Then the veterans marched to th'
north door and flung their floral remem
brances on the water, following which
the marine volleys signaled the launch
ing of the floral boat.
Admiral J M. Helm, commanding th'
Fourth. Naval District. the scheduled
speaker was unable to appear Captain
Graham spoke for him, contrasting thu
difference between the pier now as Fed
eral property and storehouse for thu
navy with the days when it was mu
nicipal holding.
Frederick Boyer Assistant City Solic
itor, spoke.
Mayor Smith, Director Wilson ant
State Senator Sproul reviewed the pa
rade from the Union League, of whicl
Mr.. Sproul is president.
After the exercises at the pier thu
veterans were taken in automobiles Il
Central Branch Y. NJ. G. A, where the!
Joined other veterans in Memorial Da.
ceremonies conducted by George q
Meade Post. G. A. Il