Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1919-06-04
"WELCOME HOME"
A BIG EVENT.
Immense Crowds, 800 Soldiers Pa
rade, Good Addresses. Chorus
Singing, Band Music, Street
Dancing in Evening.

Orleans county's "Welcome Home,
celebration for her returned soldiers
and sailors, given by the sprightly lit
tie city of Newport Tuesday, was one
of the biggest, best and gayest events
the county has ever seen.
Though the day was very hot peo-
pie began gathering early in the fore
noon and baseball fans watched the
game of baseball between the Newport
high school team and team made up
of returned soldiers, the soldiers win
ming by a score of II to 4. Many re-
turned men took advantage of the
generous offer of free moving pic
lures and free lunch was served the
men at Memphremagog park at noon.
The big event of the day was the
parade which formed soon after one
o'clock, headed by mounted marshals,
aids and police, led by Chief Hinman.
The units of the parade were then
formed in the following order:
Newport Band.
City flags.
City council automobile.
Speakers automobile
Returned u. S. soldiers and sailors
(about 250)
Returned Canadian soldiers (about
50)
Red Cross ladies
G. A. R. and W. R. C. in automo-
biles
Orleans fife and drum corps
Malta Commandery, No. 10, K. L.
St. Jean de Baptiste society
Evening Star Lodge, l. o. o. f.
Catholic Order of FOresters
Boy Scouts
Master Captain Borella's company
of boys
Protestant school children
Catholic school children
About 1000 children in all
Barton Band
A reviewing stand in front OF the
citv clerks office was occupied by
Mayor Gardner and the city council
men, Adjt. General Johnson of Yer
mont. Col. Koville, commanding the
1O1st Ammunition Train, Brig. Gen
Draper of Canada, Rev. L. A. Ed
wards. and Ex-Gov. Josiah Grout.
The parade was enthusiastically
cheered by the crowds at different
points of their march, the route COW
ering the principal sections OF the
city.
The speaking exercises in the af-
ternoon took place on the vacant city
lot near the city offices where stand
had been erected and the crowds
gathered. Mayor Gardner presided
and the speakers were Gen. Draper,
G. M. G.. d. S. O., of Canada; Ex-
Gov. Grout of Newport, Rev. L. A.
Edwards and J. H. NJ. Bastien of
Newport and Col. Koville, commander
of the division in which a majority of
Newport and county boys were sta
toned. He paid a glowing tribute to
the boys as dependable, brave, clean
and splendid soldiers. He said it
gave him great pleasure to come to /
the state from which so many Tine
soldiers came and especially to the
home county of some of his best men. |
A large chorus sang patriotic songs |
druing the speaking program, led by !
Rev. Mr.. Cunningham of Newport: |
Harry Edwards also sang solo and !
Navor Gardner presented certificates |
Of appreciation to the 800 boys whose
names appear on the honor roll of |
Newport city.
At six o'clock supper was served
the men in uniform at School hall,
everything being free to khaki lads
and boys in blue during the entire
lay.
In the evening bandstands were
erected in the street in front OF the
True & Blanchard Co. store and the
Frank Flint store, the first occupied
Oy Cne newport DdIlu anu LilS le'COOt
oy the Barton band, and the street
between was given over to dancing,
FULLY 200 couples finding the sawdust
covered cement pavement a gooc
place for all the steps.
Clowns, colored lights and confetti
gave the whole a gay effect and the
streets were packed with crowds of
happy people.
Ali the buildings on Main street
we're decorated, the entire job being
lone by expert decorators from Man
chester, N. H., and was the best piece
IF work ever seen in the county.
Withal the day was one long to be
one full of interest and
ife and an event of which Vermonts
newest city may well be proud.
The crowd was estimated at from
800 to 10000 people.