Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-07-11
MONUMENT UNVEILED

il u
I Friday, July 4th, was one of thu
Bbiggest days in the history of Monte
rev, and but for the benefit of non
resident subscribers, Wrlte-uI
would seem uncalled for, because
everybody else was present.
AS previously referred to the prom
inent features of the day-honorlns
the old veterans and welcoming the
new-enlisted the interest and sym
patty of two generations, and that
record crowd came to town under
hsuch circumstances was not sur
prise.
The day was ideal-warm to be
sure, but there was ample shade, and
| no one had any fault to find with the
work of the weather man.
THE Stonewall Brigade Band con-
| tingent, about twenty men, came
Thursday evening, and between 8
Hand 10 gave an open air concert in
front of the Monterey Garage. Pretty
much thei whole population turned
out to hear the treat.
BY the time the sun began to
brighten the mountain tops, autos,
trucks and wheeled vehicles came
pouring in, and by 10 a. m, the gar
ages were full and machines were
parked on every street, alley, and in
maHy-private yards.
" The program as given in the Re-
corder of last week was carried out
with but few changes. The parade
formed at the school house, led by
the old veterans in automobiles, fol-
lowed by the band and the returned
| soldiers. 1t was said that of the
former about 40 were to be counted,
not all of them, however, being from
Highland, and of the returned SOL
diers and sailors, something like 60
were present. A. R. Gilkerson was
chief marshall, and was assisted by I.
L. Bverage, c. S. swadley and JOS, H.
Hiner.
Ex-Governor Montague came out
from Staunton in the early morning,
and his address was the number Of
first Importance on the program Of
the morning. He was introduced by
E. B. Jones, after. the invocation by
Mr.. Parker, q song and a reading Sc
lection. It was his first visit to
Highland and the only county in Yir-
ginia in which he had not previously
spoken. He was, it was said, the
second Virginia governor to visit
Highland, the other one being John
Letcher, of ante-bellum days.
We will not attempt to give any
outline of Mr., Montague's address or
offer any comment except to say that
It was of the excellent sort for which
he is noted and that he had an ap-
preciative audience.
/The lifting of the veil from the
Soldier figure took place about noon,
while the band played Dixie, Mrs. ].
B. Bradshaw pulling the string"
The simple ceremony was loudly,
cheered, as the finished work of the
q. D. C. Chapter stood out In beauty
and splender, the admiration of
thousands.
AIhe noon recess followed, and,
while the crowd exceeded eXpecta-
tons, it is not thought that any fail
ed to get dinner, either at the tables
prepared by the committee, or with
some family, resident or visiting, as
many baskets were brought in by
visitors.
Rev. G.. w. Staples offered an in
vocation at the opening Of the after
noon session, and interspersed by
musical selections and another read
ing, addresses were made by Hon. H.
H. Byrd, of Warm Springs, and Maj.
Roller, of the A. M. A. Both of these
addresses were good and much en-
joyed.
We have not referred, in regular
order, to the parts taken by Mrs. G.
D. Dudley, Jr., Miss Elizabeth White
law and Henkle Shumate, but each. of
these selections was especially appro-
pirate and marked ability was shown
by those where names we have men
toned.
4 All in all, it was day of which
Highland is pround, one of the larg-
est crowds ever assembled, yet no dis
order and no accident to mar its
pleasure, features largely attribute
BILE TO the practical absence OF liqcuf
The crowd was estimated at from
\ to 5000, a few placing it at $500.
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