The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-10-02
SERVICE MEN OPEN THE FAIR
Third Annual Garrett County Exhibi-
tiOn Gets Into Swing Auspiciously

Agricultural Fair Association of Gar
rett County opened on Tuesday most
auspiciously, the weather being per-
feet in every respect with the result
that record breaking crowd was
present for the first day of the meet
ing, which was augmented by the
attendance of more than a hundred
khaki covered soldiers, representing
every section of the county, and many
different branches of the service, in
fantry, artillery, machine gun outfits,
engineers, medical corps and the avi-
alton section.
In addition to the soldiers of the
World War there was also in the pa
rade the remnant of the soldiers of
the War of the Rebellion, the num-
Der being less than a dozen, two vet
Grams of the Spanish-American war,
several war nurses and members of
the Red Cross, the veterans and the
ladies all being provided with automo-
biles.
AS the men came to town the word
was passed around for them to report
at the Nally building where they were
registered by the officer detailed for
that duty by Major Starr, of the En-
gineers, who had charge of the days
program affecting the soldiers, and
who showed his ability as an officer
in many ways. He had as his aides
Lieutenants Paul Liston, Charles M.
Sincell, DR.. John D. Darby, of the
medical corps, and Lieut.. Bissell. The
men after being registered, massed at
the head of Third street where they
were formed into platoons with non
commissioned Officer at thehead of Teach
platoon. With the Stars and Stripes
borne by Joseph Rathbun, lately ma
rine in the service, and who was re-
Gently decorated with the croix de
guerre, and Marion Newman, another
marine bearing the flag containing
q large gold star and with the figures
"38" emblazoned on it representing
Garrett county's total loss in the war
in killed and dead, the parade march
ed down Second street and thence thro
the principal streets of the town, pre-
senting to the many hundreds upon
the thoroughfares of Oakland a spec
tacle entirely new to them. The peo-
pie were so impressed with the ap-
pearance of the soldiers that they
were spell-bound with the result that
few cheers greeted them, but just then
silence upon the part of the people
was tribute, when it is remembered
that just one year prior to Tuesday
the great majority of those colnpos-
ing the ranks were facing shot and
shell on the fields of France and from
which veritable hell it was only a
miracle and the hand of the Divine
that any came out to tell the story
of the sufferings and hardships en-
dured.
Immediately following the parade
the men were marched to the Nally
building where they were addressed
by their commanding officer, Major
Starr, who laid before them the i'm
portance just at this time of the or
ganization for Garrett county of a
chapter of the American Legion. TIE
speaker made clear to the men the
great need Of such an organization,
and following his suggestion, DR.. John
D. Darby, of Oakland, was selected
as the temporary chairman Of the
movement who will have charge until
a charter can be secured and the or
ganization be made permanent by the
formation Of the chapter and the cleo
ton of permanent officers. The men
were then formed into line and filed
into the Nally building where the
ladies of the local chapter of the Red
Cross had prepared most bountiful
repast and which the men enjoyed to
the fullest
The veterans of the previous wars
also shared in the luncheon provided
by the ladies, and they, too, enjoyed
themselves.
Had arrangements for the enter
tainment of the men been made known
at an earlier date there is a posi-
bility that a much larger number
would have been present, but as it
was the parade was most creditable
to the men themselves and those who
had charge of it. Another year and
it is hoped that every man who was
in the service of his country will be
present whose home is located in Gar
rett county.
The Fair itself was largely patron
lied by a tremendous crowd on Tues
day, the opening day, when the exer-
cises incident to the gates being
thrown open to the public were car
ried out according to the printed pro-
gram, when a prayer was offered by
the Rev, DR. Ely. pastor of the Oak