The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-04-22

ulOCueIS NSdoSu Wy uhiS' o' "A' va
kinson, wearing her badge of honor,
a star for all five sons in the ser
vice.
The parade circled the square
drawing up finally on the plaza in
front of the Court House from which
speaking took place. The exercises
were in charge of Mayor Mars, who
asked Rev. H. W. Pratt to open
with prayer.
After prayer by the Rev. DR.. Pratt
pastor of the Presbyterian Church,
the Hon. Frank B. Gary was intro
duced by Mayor Mars and made a
very admirable address, remarkable
for it's beauty of diction, force of
statement and eloquence of the just
tribute paid to the returning heroes
who had sustained on many fields of
carnage the reputation of Abbeville
County for constancy to duty. Judge
Gary was happy in all that he said
and particularly in his tribute to
the unreturning soldier who sleeps
under the poppies in Flanders field.
He concluded with the suggestion
that the men from Abbeville who
fought in the great struggle to make
the world a safe place to live in
should organize a society for the
preservation of the truth about their
achievements so that in the making
of history the record might be pre-
served without mutilation in the in
terest of other forward-looking men
who are already beginning to make
their claims to immortality for
deathless deeds. He would not with
hold from others the least recogni-
tion of their wonderful service at
the front but he would keep the rec
ord straight for the honor of the men
of Abbeville who also suffered and
fought and bled and died for God
and country and humanity.
"Profit by the experience of the
veterans Of the Southern Confeder.
acy," said Judge Gary. "They made
MISCONCEPTIONS history-but un-
friendly hands have penned it. You
may be assured that other sections
will claim all that is coming to them.
North Carolina is already claiming
the CORY of first breaking the Hin
denburg Line. will not say that
the Tarheelian is not backward
about coming forward. Let US heed
the lesson"
In concluding, Judge Gary paid
tribute to the devotion of the wo-
men who did their part and more
than their part in the great world
war and to all the other helpers in
the fearful struggle for the salvation
of humanity from the powers of
darkness.
=, The speech on behalf of the SOL
diers was made by Lieut.. W. D. Will
kinson, and an excellent speech it
was. He was easy and graceful in
his language and the attention of
the vast throng of people did not
stray as he spoke of the soldier and
his life. He made a touching allus-
ion to the service of prayers held in
Abbeville during the war and thank
ed the people for it. He vioced the
appreciation of the boys for the
Canteen workers, the Red Cross, the
sustaining mother love and the feel
ing of gratitude for the fathers and
the work done by the men at home.
Lieut.. Wilkinson has added new lau.
rels to his fame.
After the speaking the crowd en-
joyed the punch served, the band
music and the social intercourse un-
til the supper was served at seven
thirty.
The tables were prettily decorated
and were spread on the plaza. A
bountiful supper was served by the
Canteen ladies and was enjoyed by
all. The Confederate veterans were
guests also.
There was no speech-making at
the supper, the soldiers preferring
to devote their time to "chow'' which
was superior to that served by Uncle
Sam while the Hindenburg Line was
going by the board. After supper
many of the soldiers took advantage
of Manager Kay's invitation to see