Evening journal., 1919-08-15
ROCKFORD GLAD TO
SEE SOLDIERS HOME
West Side Fox Let Heroes
Know They Appreciate
Their Sacrifice
$IG GOLD PIECE
FOR EACH BOY

| AuuucdNua OF tlttiflc NHNIs, m
cleaning lines radlstng from a cen
trail lagslan far out over the grounds,
and brightly Illuminating the cOlOrs OF
hundreds Of flutterng flsgs and ydrds
OF gay bunting, turned Rockford Park
into a Joyous reception hail for i1O
soldiers and sailors of that section.
last night 10 looked iOO per cent. bet
! tor than French chaieauN 90 the boys
IN khaki and navy blue or white
More than three thousand friends as
sembled 10 welcome the fellows home.
/ Invited guests We're inside the roped
! enclosure but hundreds gathered out
side. and ropes were uncOnsidered as
/ the evening went on Most of the
soldiers and sailors had played around
| that park as kids and felt az n they
/ had returned 90 years ago, what with
Everybody calling them by their ilrst
names. telling them how they had
/ looked at siN years old. and saying
now superlaiNcly good n was 30 have
all The home boys back
Nearly everybody was there earlier
than the hour set for The reception.
For the first few minutes. the soldiers
and sailors gathered in ,tin. little
punches by themselves. and the girls
giggled In stin. little punches boy them
selves. But the magic notes uf the
band 'struck up carly and continuing
with brief iniermissions until after
midnight under the baton of j Norris
Robinson. soon put an end TO any stiff
ness Within very short time,
sturdy lad in khaki or COB blue could
be seen iOyOusiy sightseeing over the
grounds with two pretty girls hanging
on each arm. And what that boy Wd,
telling those girls about the supCrla-
tive merits Of American girls over
French mlidens was an artistic marNe,
As a matter OF cold fact. no French
girl could compare with those pretty
maids OF Rockford last night an
dressed up in their daintiest orglndies.
The Philadelphia quartet, in operate
numbers. drew applause from tho crowd
with their charming singing of Lucia, "
"Rigoletto." and other favorics.
The stately houses facing the park
were decorated with bunting from roof
10 ground
The Bayard statue was circled with
red. white and blue lights. As back
ground was stretched on a scailold a
gloriously proportioncd American nag.
one Of the largest IN The state. loored
by the Joseph Bancroft & sons Com
pany. Tho bandsiand was brilliantly
adorned The decorations were The
work Of Ferris Giles. some NJ the most
beautiful effects ever achieved by this
We'll known decorator
Following the preliminary concert
ths soldiers and sailors were marched
up io the front Of the band,tand amid
enthusiastic cheers The pleasaniest
surprise of the evening Was then
sprung upon the guests OF honor. when
they were literally showered with gold.
As each mans name was callcl ont BY
tiorshell W. Hall. private secretary 70
Niaidin Coyne n' stepped forward ana
received a $40 gold piece as a souvenir
o. lie occasion. molly placed i1 "a
rush-lin box. puk Guard John J.
W.cv made The ,rrseniation. P1'L
rurrd for - VsEs. Mr. Wiley nal
lrovn most Of ,r, boys as youngsters
" Lnm ne had mals times shoocd oul
Of mischief IN Rockford Park. The
hearty thanks of i'c boys was giNer,
with ringing cheers. 10 the people 'i
rd. who hti given them TIC
81 lon6id reception. and particularly toI
WIrgm Coync alt Mr.. Wiley, leader
ia Lciiing mp the reception
Mr. COvne. who requested that he be
given no mention among those who
were responsible for last nights ar
fair. was the chief financial supporter.
and il was through his contribution
that every one NJ the 10 soldiers re-
ceived a $40 gold peice.
"The Stsr-Spanglcd Banner, was
sung previously 10 ihc presentation OF
the souvenirs.
Following the presentation NJ thH /
gold pieces the crowd was invited 10 |
tho refreshmeni stand where sand |
wiches. soft drinks. ice cream ami /
smokes" were distributed, not only to |
the soldiers. but 10 an The invited
guests
PRETTY girls ~ Rockford Park pre- /
sided over the flower-dcckcd refresh /
ment tables
Following the refreshments there was /
a street dance held on Shallcross ave /
nue.. and this continued until after mid /
night.
Although about 5000 persons were
at the reception. there was no trouble
and the twenty city policemen who /
were on duty had an easy night
There were many decorations fos
valor and wound -cheyrons on the uni
forms last night
Both officers and privatos were pres
ent. and many divisions of the army
were represented
The commmttee which arranged the
welcome was composed Of Mr. and Mrs.
John Wiley. Ex-Governor and Mrs.
Charles r. Miller. Mr.. and Mrs William
Coyne. Mr.. and Mrs. John Bancroft \
Chief of Police and Mrs. George Black. /
Mrs. Alice Steptoe. Mn and Mrs. George
Kerr and Mr. and Mrs Edward y. Grant.
Mr. Grant Is from Philadelphia. and
,ransed the program He has had much
experience in this work and has been |
active in war comp activities
Among The military men present y