Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-25
.LEH|GH HONORS
HEROES OF WAR
Allentown Acclaims Countys
Superb Soldiers in Great
Parade
TEN THOUSAND IN LINE

speoiat Dispatch TO Eucnin0 Public LEDGER.
Allentown, Pa, June 25.-Paylng
spectacular tribute to more than 4Ooo
of its returned heroes of the world war,
this number representing approximately
( two thirds Of the entire contingent that
Lehigh county hurled into the great
abyss, the 80 900 people of Lehigh
county today took a holiday and de-
voted il to a celebration in honor of the
5000 soldiers that went from here into
the army. OF this number nearly 200
gave their lives on the battlefelds of
France and in the army camps Of this
country for the cause of freedom and
three times that number bear the scars
of German shell aud shrapnel.
As its first mark of appreciation the
city this week. through the local Red
Cross chapter. presented each hero with
q handsome medal comm emorative Of the
wearer's service and expressive Of the
municipality gratitude for the sacri
fees made by the American soldier.
Another outward manifestation of the
country's determination to omit no de-
tail that would contribute to the JOY
Of the returned soldiers was the elab.
crate manner in which the street decora.
tive scheme was carried out. The city
of Allentown was never half so lavishlv
adorned as It is on this patriotic ocCa-
sion.
100 900 Witness Victory Parade
Featuring the days festivities, which
assumed the aspect of a great picnic
held on the Allentown Fair grounds
and at which the soldiers and the mem
bers of their families were the guests
of honor. was the Victory Day parade
this morning. It was estimated that
more than 100. 900 people witnessed
the spectacle.
The pageant was headed by General
: c. I. O'Neill. former commander of the
Third Brigade Of the National Guard
and for many months in charge of the
153d Depot Brigade at Camp Hancock,
as chief marshal. The division in which
the world war heroes of the Twenty
eighth and Seventy ninth Divisions
marched, was marshaled by General Z.
G.. Shannon. of Columbia, Pa, former
commander of the old Fourth Regiment,
National Guard, and who led the 111th
Infantry to many victories in the
trenches of France.
O'Neill and Shannon Acclaimed
Both Generals O'Neill and Shannon
were received with tunultuous applause
as they rode side by side at the head
of the parade.
Among the aides were Captain John
e. Dillinger, Captain William A. Ruch g,
Captain Harry Hall, Lieutenant Rob
ert A. Young and Lieutenant James
*. Huebner, all of whom saw hard
service on French and Belgian soil.
Heading the world war heroes was 6
drum corps made up of old Allentown
musicians, wearing Continental uni
forms and presenting a strange contrast
with the khaki of the present day. In
eluded in the first division were men
who fought in the 10Sth and 109th
Machine Gun Battalions and 103d Am =
munition Train from the Keystone Divi-
sion, detachments of the 310th. 311th,
314th and 316th Regiments of the Sew
enty- ninth Division. the former headed
ter by Lieutenant A. W. Burner
Other world war units in line were from
the First Division and the Twenty
seventh. Thirty seventh and Eighty
second Divisions, Base Hospitals 67 anC
6S, from Camp Crane, and signal serv-
ice men, engineers and aviators, sail
ors and marines bringing up the rear
the casuals riding in automobiles driven
by members of the girls messenger
corps.
In all there were nine divisions ir
the parade, organizations participating
besides the world war heroes including
Spanish American War veterans
Grand Army men. Red Cross. state
militia reserves, fraternal and civic or
ganizations. church societies. fire de
partment and industrial and business
mems bodies. 1t was estimated tina
more than 1000 men and women wer'
In line.
The route of the parade led up Ham
ilton street to Seventeenth, thence T.
the Fair grounds. which was turned owe
for the day to the entertainment of tn
soldiers and members of their families
The festivities began and ended with
big meal and interspersing these gas
tronomic events was an elaborate pro
gram of amusements, including runnin
races, a ten act vaudeville show, ban
concerts, folk dances by the publ
school children of Allentown. boxin
bouts and track and field sports.