The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-30
wEDGEFIELD PATRIOTIC DAY.
Largely Attended and Successful
Meeting OH Wednesday.

"hu uTIiStlcoliy arranged program OF
exercises OF any patriotic rally yet
held i'm Sumter county since the be-
ginning of the present war. Wedgefeld
school Wednesday covered itself with
glory in many ways
Wedgefield school has the banner
record to begin with Of twenty three
stars on the service flag, each star rep
resenting n boy or teacher of that
school of less than $50 pupils who are
in the service fighting or ready to
fight for their country. or to be exact
nineteen boys. four from one Wedge
field home. the boys of Mr.. and Mrs.
j. B. Ryan, and four former princi-
pals of this school as can be seen by
reading the honor roll of Wedgefeld
school printed below.
The completeness of the program.
the decorations. and the music and
the the extraordinary fine singing by
the pupils under the direction of Miss
jeanette Thomas. musical directress,
the marching. costumes, stage decor
alton in MASSES of beautiful natural
lowers. bunting, and flags, all con-
tributed i'm beautiful effect to the
pleasures and the patriotism OF the
occasion and credit of the school and
community and the people of Middle
ton township and of Wedgefeld prop
er. 1t must have required days of
hard work. thorough training, and
true patriotism to pull off such de-
lightful and entertaining occasion.
The entire school of boys, and girls
and young ladies entered the audi
torium and grouped themselves on
the stage and after the opening inyol
cation by Rev. T. T.. Derrick. sang
Our Country's Flag" DR.. M. L.
farier, chairman of the Middleton
Township committee of the Sumter
County Council of Defense, presided
and after welcoming the visitors. pa
irons. and speakers introduced the
speakers i'm the following order: Mr..
I'll. c. Haynsworth, Mrs. Nina Solo
mons. chairman OF the Sumter Coun-
~ Woman's Council of Defense; Mr..
l.. G.. Bowman, and DIR. George w.
Dick, all of Sumter. Each of the
speakers acquitted himself and herself
with credit to the cause they repre-
sented and showed superior knowl-
edge Of the subjects under discussion.
They evidenced sincere devotion to
the boys who are fighting and those
who will yet fight and many of whom
will die i'm order that millions may
remain in the comfort, safety. and
prosperity of the homes. The ap-
plause which each speaker received
testified to the pleasure the audience
derived in listening to such splendid
addresses.
"A very touching incident or feature
or the occasion was the presentation
of beautiful twenty three star ser.
vice flag from the ladies of Wedge
Held to the Wedgefield school i'm hon
or and recognition OF the nineteen
boys from that school and the four
former principals OF that school. all
or whom are now either i'm France or |
I'm encampments training soldiers or |
learning to be soldiers, or i'm the naval
or aviation branches of the service as |
follows. The flag was presented by
Postmaster George w. Dick in a pc
culiarly happy. yet touching manner.
Former principals now In service
William Lykes Henry Rembert. j. A. |
Tuten. u. S. White. Wedgefield school
boys in service: Albert Aycock, Ma
rion Brice. Wade Brice. Hayward Bur-
ress. Peter Dwight, r. ID. Brohun, Roy
Brohun, Claude Hammond, Lee Thom-
as. Gerald Ryan. Neil Ryan, Julian
Ryan, Willis Ryan. Henry Strange,
Wilson Strange, James Norris, Jeff !
Bert Weinberg. Peter Mel
lett.
Prof. s. NJ. Clarkson received the /
service flag and responded to DIR.
Dicks congratulatory and commen-I
datory presentation talk i'm IL happy |
and eloquent. and appreciative talk in |
behalf OF Wedgeheld school and the
brave former principals and school !
boys Of Wedgefield school. Several
Splendidly rendered vocoI nun,b bors
were sung by the entire school
during the entertainment.
The committee of Wedgefield Ia
dies ana gentlemen who deserve so
iouch credit and 80 many thanks for
arranging such cOmmendable and
patriotic celebration are Miss Bette