Norwich bulletin., 1919-09-22

! Grounds, where the men of former generation encamped before they marched out to the defense of the l Union, the citizens of Norwich on Saturday gave a welcome home to the
 soldier and sailor boys of the town 1 who served under their country's flag
 in the recent world war brought on
 by the German empires lust for world dominion.
 i Something over 600 of the more than 1900 service men of the town were on hand and a crowd estimated at 10000 attended to do them honor. Many of the stores of the city made i the afternoon holiday for their employees and the weatherman also ternoon after a threatening forecast. From end to end the big programme of entertainment arranged for the day was carried out with complete suc- cess and the ex-service men were unanimous in their expressions that the citizens and the committees in charge of the details had shown them warmth of welcome that they could never forget.
 About 1 o'clock the crowd began to arrive at the Fair Grounds. where
 Tubbs' Military band in the music
 stand at the grandstand opened the
 programme. promptly time with
 selection and this popular musical or
 ganization gave concert till O.
 clock when the formal programme was
 begun.
 Other musical features of the after
 noon cane later in the singing led by
 J. Edward Bouvier, director of com-
 munity singing at Worcester, who had
 the whole crowd singing with him in
 fine spirit. MT. Bouvier got down on
 the grass in front of the seats, jump
 ing up and down like cheer leader
 at a college football game. and hav-
 ing a group from Girls Community
 the crowd F. c. Chantereau.
 French tenor, sang his sewn compo-
 sition, Return Waltz. written for welcome home to the men. and was warmly applauded.
 Upon their first arrival at the grounds the ex-service men. each of whom had a guest repaired to the county dining room building where which had been prepared for them, bottle of gingerale. ice cream, which were distributed by the refreshment committee, Joseph C. Bland. chairman, who was assisted by a group of Glris Community Center members. Sixteen hundred packa ges of cigarettes with souvenir match box. contributed by the Knights of Columbus. were pass ed out by George H. Dolan and two secretaries sent from the New York headuuarters. There were also pack ges of chewing gum from the Wrig- lev company. Most of the lunches were taken to the grandstand where they were eaten as the holders Watoh-
 
 The girls. assisting in distributing the lunch boxes were May kilday, Mary Flynn, Thelna solomon, Ehnor Stevens. Josephine Murphy. Helen ley, Marion Swan. Mildred Fillmore, Eliza beth Lane, Georgia Fillmore. Mrs. Alice Jackson Hussev. Olive Rltey, Anna Sadinsky. Mary Swanton. Ser tha Weinstein, Marie Pratt bertha Curland Bertha Roessler. Mrs. May Graham Friswen. Fannie Budniek- Blanche Armstrong. Elizabeth Suih- van, Margaret Condon. Elizabeth Dun- derdale, Anna Blumenthal.
 Edward Connolly, who was the an nouncer for the day. started the for- mai programme at ? o'clock. when the crowd rose and sang The Star span gled Banner to the music Of me oano, with Mir Connolly through his mega phone. MT. Rouvier and ME Chante- leau all leading the singing.
 H. R. Branche, secretary of the ex- ecutive committee on the Welcome Home was presented to introduce the speakers.
 Ex-Mayor Brown Speaks,
 Mir. Branche introduced Former Mayor Allyn l.. Brown as the hrst speaker.
 Mr Brown spoke in part as follows:
 Fellow Citizens; And by that mean all of you who are preseht, ! have returned from service, men still in service relatives of Norwich men who have given their lives for thelr country. or just friends who are here | to do honor with me to those who have fought for us. am glad of this to speak briefly my own a apprecia tion to you on this your pup lie Welcome Home day Because or | the office which I then held on behalf of the city I bade formal farewell to very many of you when you leff home in answer to our country's need; therefore. I am particularly glad to be here to welcome you back.
 Now that it is all over. it is dif1- cult for one to relate the feelings ! that he experienced during those months from April. 1917. through No vember. 1918. You have each one of er in the training camps at home. on the sea. or on the other side. l wish had the power to express to you the feelings which we had here at home pie gladly did their part in serving food working home gardens. buying War Savings Stamps, contributing their ss5. COG to the Red Cross. their subscribing for s7,o00,- 100 worth of Liberty Loan bonds, -aisng special funds for you hoys in samp when you first went out. and ioing gladly everything that was ask d of them. but, none ever forgot that he greatest thing which Norwich did vas done by yoR 1900 men who went r. put to fight for her and that is why, now thai you are safely back. we de- igSt to welcome. you and to do you every possible honor.
 And what can we say to you par . ,nts, relatives and friends of the ,rave boys of Norwich who have not come back and who have given their ives for their country. To you we |. ,an but express our sympathy in the anne breath with our highest praise lonor and thanks to them. Our hearts 70 out to you in deepest sympathy as hey go out in sincerest thanks to -o-lr brave sons and to all other brave , nen who are our hosts today
 Mayor Desmond's Greeting. |,
 J. Edward Bouvier, director of com aunity singing at Worcester, led the . ig crowdNin some stirring singing of America" and the Battle Hymn of he Republic" accompanied by the : and, and was followed by Mayor J. J. T