Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-27
URGE EC|TyPARADE
OF HOMECOMERS
Commissioner and Board of
Trade Head Favor Stars
Plan for Welcome.
FOLKS WANT TO APPLAUD

Commendation of the idea set forth
yesterday in The Star of having units
of District soldiers stop here long
enough to parade on their way from
Decentralization ports to the demobili-
zation center, at Camp Meade, was
given today by Louis Brownlow,
chairman of the board Of Commits
sioners of the District. and by Walter
A Brown. president of the Washing
ton Board of Trade.
If these troops, returning in many
cases as company or battalion units,
go straight to Meade. they will there
be given furloughs at different times.
it is pointed out, and will straggle
into their homes in the capital in
twos and threes and similar small
groups and probably by different
trains. 1t will then be impossible to
get enough of them together here to
their honor.
City Wants toASee Them.
The suggestion has been made from
numerous sources that Washington be
made stop-over point in the journey
from New York or Norfolk to Admiral,
Md. and that during a days stay, or
less. in this city. the battalion, COM
pany- or even platoon. be given a
chance to parade down Pennsylvania
avenue. So far District of Colum-
bia men returning have been mostly
casuals, but some time the 312th Ma
chine Gun Battalion, the companies
Of the former Sd Infantry and 1st
separate battalion, the 104th Field
Signal Battalion and others will be
coming back for rehabilitation as
units, their work we'll done.
Mr. Browns Endorsement.
That he is heartily in sympathy
with the idea of having units repre-
sentative of the District parade here
before demobilization. both in his Of
flcial position as president of the
as a patriotic citizen. is the declara-
tion of Mr.. Brown.
Some arrangement surely ought to
be made whereby these troops could
be seen and applauded here, company
by company. or even in such small
groups as platoons." said Mr.. Brown
this morning. "Of course, the larger
the detachment the better, but scarce
ly any could be too small. I consider
the suggestion set forth in The Star
yesterday most excellent, and it would
be great pity were it not acted upon.
"As president of the Board Of Trade
1 shall be most happy to lend the
weight and influence of that i'm
portant organization to furthering the
plan and for arranging such celebra-
tionS in honor of the returning vet
Grams as may to the citizens Of the
National Capital seem proper and fit-
ting.
Praises Work Done.
These men have done a wonderful
work. They represent not only the
United States, but also the District of
Columbia, and their record has, in
every case, been glorious one. We
as citizens ought to have a chance to
welcome them and to show our appre-
citation of the luster they have cast on
their home town.
IF the suggestion be fayorably acted
upon by the War Department
authorities, as think it surely will,
/ shall be very glad if can be of any
service in working out details of
whatever mode of recognition the
citizens shall plan to give them. To
have them met and welcomed at their
trains and then to have them march
through Oul StItetS OI COuISS,
the two most important matters, but
there may be others that will appeal
to local residents"
Mr.. Brownlow Approves.
District Commissioner Brownlow is
enthusiastic over the plan as outlined
in The Star yesterday. He points out
that it offers the only opportunity for
WashingtonianS to welcome home the
units of home boys as they arrive
from time to time from the other side