Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-05
Vast CrODds Attend Grand
Forks COuntyS Service Flag.
Dedication in Central Park

panytng the dedication Of the Grand
Forks county service flag in Central
Park yesterday afternoon were fav-
ored by ideal weather, and thous-
ands of people from all over the
city as we'll as from every township
of the county attended the exercises,
gathering in front Of the music
where seats had been provided for
all the mayors of the county. the
speakers, and members OF the COM
mittee.
Principal features Of the afternoon
were addresses by Tracy r. Bangs
and ex-senator W. E. Purcell of
Wahpeton both Of whom clearly
brought out why America is engaged
in the war. and how the war is to
lhe finally and decisively won. Com
munity singing. and music by the
hand of Reynolds and the Grand
Forks Municipal hand formed inter-
est:ng and Inspiring parts Of the
program.
The service flag contains at the
present time one thousand blue stars
and twelve wrought in gold IN honor
of the county soldiers who have died
in the service of the United States
since this country declared war upon
Germany.>
Immense Number Of Autos.
As early as at m O'Clock in the
afternoon. people began to gather in
the park, many farmers having come
in from, outlying parts Of the county.
taking their lunch in he shade Of the
trees. BY > O'clock there were many
hundreds gathered in h park. and
when the time for the opening OF
the program drew near. the assem-
blage included thousands OF people
with more coming every minute. In
the region just outside the park so
many automobiles were placed that
some citizens said they had never seen
an equal number in this city.
Chairs had been provided for rela-
tives of the men whose participation
in the war was honored by stars upon
the county flag. but the majority Of
audience remained standing during the
nearly three hours which the exercises
occupied. On the speakers platform
were seated the mayors of allP the
towns of the county. The music and
speakers stands were profusely decor
ated with American, Allied and Red
Cross flags.
At $3.50 the bands of Reynolds and
Grand Forks began a concert pro-
gram which was greatly appreciated
and which proved a rich fund Of en-
" lllC CIoWuS uIlIll IIC
actual ceremonies started.
National Anthem Sung.
Promptly at 8 o'clock County Com
missioner Thomas r. Mooney, the
chairman of the day, opened the pro-
gram by requesting the audience to
sing THE Star Spangled Banner" the
national hymn was sung with more
than customary emphasis and enthus-
iasm, and the people gathered in the
park sang it, led by the Grand Forks
municipal band and the Lilac Redge
quartet, after which Rev. Father F. A.
Meyer of Reynolds, spoke the invo-
cation. praying the Lord of hosts for
increased strength to fight with and
for a constantly growing confidence in
the ultimate outcome of the tremen-
dous conflict which is being waged in
Europe. Unusual fervor entered into
the invocation because of the fact
that Chairman Mooney, in his brief
the fact that he had just been in
formed of continued Allied and Amer
lean progress on the French front.
When the audience and the Lilac
Hedge quartet had sung Keep the
Home Fires Burning" Tracy r. Bangs
was introduced.
=. In Praise of War Organization,
Mr.. Bangs after giving from Official
German orders some illustrations OF
the methods applied in "disciplining'
the population of Serbia and Poland
paid warm homage to the work of the
Salvation Army at the front: 1.-THE
women of that army go right into the
front trenches. giving our boys coffee
and doughnuts and are like mothers
to our young men over there Mr.
Bangs said; they don't hold any
meetings or revivals-they just extenC
their hand of fellowship and all they
ask is an opportunity to help oul
boys. They are doing a tremendou:
work in France and I want to tell yor
that what our young men over there
experience with the Salvation Army
will give us an entirely new concep
ton of the excellent work which thi.
organization is doing SO wonderfully
The Young Women's Christian AS
ISOLATION came in for much praise be,
cause of it's work in the camps ant
environments of this country wher,
the numerous hostess houses eloquent
~ tell their story of what that associ
alton is doing. THE Y. W. C. A. ha!
a great mission right here in our ow,
United States, and I believe it woult
be a waste of effort for it to try t,
work in France, because they are S,
greatly needed here that we canno
dispense with their marvellous work,
Work In Camp and Trenches.
MI. Bangs also paid sincere tribute
to the work Of the knights Of Colum
bus, emphasizing the fact that tn,