The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-23
~ elcorne For Soldiers
Secretary Reardon of the Cham
her Of Commerce Gives Out
line of Program

Sunater county will close up shoI
and celebrate on Monday, April 2Sth
the return Of the heroes Of the worle
war. TO their homes and loved ones
Mayor L. D. Jennings will issue ms
proclamation that April 2Sth is gen
eral holiday, and the board OF coun'
~ commissioners will request that the
entire country districts and slnaiiel
towns ioin with the county seat, sum
term a general suspension Of al!
business for that day. and come &c
Sumter for the biggest celebration
eyer held in South Carolina.
For weeks the Sumter County
Chamber Of Commerce under whose
! direction the big event will be pull
ed of. and which started the ball to
rolling to appropriately honor the
veterans of the great war for civil
4 ization and 6ecency, has had commit
tees working on the program. Every
bank president in the county OF sum
ter was designated as a member OF
Of the finance committee and they
( got busy and in no time there was
money in hand to pGll off the big
gest event this section Of the state
has ever witnessed.
The people Of Sumter county have
been invited, all the white people OF
1he+ entire county of Sumter, to JOIN
in s county wide democratic picnic
dinner Of the basket variety at which
the soldiers and sailors Of every
branch of the service, those VINO
went overseas and those who served
at home. all who wore the uniform
OF Uncle Sam will be the guests Of
honor. All OF the ministers, teachers.
Sunday school superintendents'
sschcei trustees directors Of the SUM
ter County Chamber Of Commerce
members of the former Council Of
Defense, and other citizens are re-
euested 70 spread the news and help
to get everybody here bright and
early on April 2Sth, to spend the day
and far into the night. Young ana
old are cordially invited and conf
dent,y expected.
An outline of the big patriotic and
it might be said spectacular pro-
gram has been handed out, in part
as indicated below.
To begin with Sumter county wish
es first Of ali to return thanks to God
for the great victory Of the allies, and
for the return Of most Of our Sumter
county boys, and also to do honor as
well to the memory Of those heroes
who made the supreme sacrifice by
giving up their noble lives for hu-
n,anity. So that the homecoming
welcome and celebration will really
open up at o'clock Sunday after
noon, April 27th with a countrywide
thanksgiving service on the school
sqrare In which al the people OF
this county. or any other county for
that matter are invited to. partlcl-
pate. There will be a splendid song
service under direction OF Wac
Camp Community Service song spe7
csalist Homer j. SYouns, of. Colunl7
bia and Mr.. w. e. Moore. OF SUM-
ter. The names Of those who died IN
service Of their country from
this county will be read at this SER
t;ce. There Will be appropriate od-
dresses by selected speakers
The white ministers Of Sumter OF
every religious faith. constitute the
committee in charge Of this service.
with Mr.. H. a. Moses, representing
Congregation Sinai.
The Thanksgiving service will be
held as an open air event at the
school square. but in the event OF
had weather Trinity Methodist church
viii be used.
On Monday. April 2Sth, the jollifl-
II
to. God, the day before, will start OIL
bright and early with bands playing
the streets and business houses beau
fifufiy decorated. and a general AR OF
fcsfiyity pervading the day. There
viii be the biggest and best military
isa,id from Camp Jackson loaned bE
the United States army, TO furnish
nat,sic for open air concerts, for the
,a;l;ta,y parade. fo- the grand open
air dance tha, evening on Washing
rom Street, and for the other events
OF the day.
Starting in at 1870 when the pa
rade VIII be formed. ''in de mornIn'
l,y de bright light it will be steady
carnival of pleasure until the wee
sr1alT hours of the next, day, new time
and old time counting. or not count
ing. as the occasion arises fol eS-
plantations on the part Of any one
The heroes Of the war will parade
With the Sumter Light Infantry.
south Carolina Reserve Militia. the
military battalion of the Sumter Boys
High School. and with practical as
sr1rances Of a large military compan:-
from Camp Jackson. and the Camp
Jackson band marching as an honor
ary escort to the young veterans who
helped to bust the Hindenburg line
and to all of the gallant boys and
men, as before stated, who wore the
uniform Of Uncle Sam at home and
abroad, from Sumter county. or any
soldiers and sailors Of the same war
from any other county who are visit
ing Sumter and care TO participate in
all the events Of the day. and be hon
ored by Sumter county.
Immediately following the parade
there will be at the school square
number of splendid addresses. with
OF Y,