Norwich bulletin., 1919-02-13


fitting phrase that can be used to
describe the welcome that was extend.
ed Wednesday by the city of Norwich
to her returned heroes of the great
world war, and if every citizen of
Norwich could have seen the bronzed
and rugged faces of the veterans, faces
with a new fight in them, faces that
shone with the true spirit of democ-
racy, she would have been douhly
proud of her boys. And the boys are
certainly proud of the old home town
and as one rugged veteran who has
been over there expressed it: ''The
old burg must think lot of US to do
thisl"
The welcome began with recep-
ton to the boys at the Buckingham
Memorial, where the veterans of '61
welcomed the veterans of the most
glorious victory in the history of the
world, veterans OF the army that saved
the world. Here the boys were made
to feel that Norwich was truly proud
of her boys, and hundreds of the citi-
zens who have stood back of armies
in the field met the returning heroes
and shook them by the hand.
After an hour of welcome at tho
Memorial, the veterans formed in line
in front of the Memorial to march to
the armory, where a feast was await
ing them. The march to the banquet
hall started at $50, headed by a troop
OF Boy Scouts bearing red fire and
torches; following the Scouts came
Capt Charles A. Hagberg, marshal of
the parade, a detachment of State
guard as an escort, then the officers of
the seth and the boys of the famous
regiment. These were followed by
other service men, some of whom had
been overseas, but the majority of
Whom had been at training camps in
this country. The sailor lads were
next in line and troop of Boy Scouts
with more red fire brought up the rear
Of the line. The Italian band, which
| generously contributed their services,
, was led by Major Domo John Harris
| and played martial music for the pa
rade
The line of march was down Main
| street and up Franklin to the arnory,
and all along the march the streets
were thronged with citizens who
cheered the boys as they marched
| along. The line of march was gayIy
decorated with flags and fir trees and
the buildings were also prettily dec
Grated At The Bulletin office the
| building had been decorated with flags
and in one of the upstairs windows
was large gold star, for Sergeant
| Major Robert Ogden Fletcher, one OF
the boys who didn't come back. but
les In a hero's grave in the field Of
| France, where he made the supreme
sacrifice for his country. At the Mar.
| lin Rockwell plant a mammoth Amer.
lean flag was hung from the roof ant
hung down nearly to the ground. Tit
Troy Steam laundry bulldog was gay.
~ decorated with flags of the allie(
nations, as were nearly all the resi-
dences and buildings along the street
At the armory the escort of Stat,
guard lined up on each side of til,
walk and the veterans marched up ;Je
tween them into the banquet hall t,
the tables, where they remained stand
ing while Bugler Allen of the 5Stl
sounded the mess call. Grace was ask
ed by Rev. c. H Ricketts, and the bow
united in singing The Star Spangle,
+ Banner, led by Edwin Hill, secretary o
the Y. NJ. c. A, who acted as son,
leader during the evening.
The hall was magnificent with ban
ners and flags and the tables wer
, | eXquisltely decorated with flowers an
small flags. At the head of the har
was a large electric sign with tn
, words Welcome Home" which glove
, with the spirit Of the occasion. Di
! rectly over this sign was picture G
Americas greatest general John
Persh1ng. Across the top of the band
! stand were flags of the allied nation
and evergreens and under the WELDON
: sign was large Red Cross oanne
supported on either side by a. larc
/ American flag. From the girders c
the roof we're hung American flag,
S HaFa of other nations and signal pen
: nants which were kindly loaned &c
l the occasion by the submarine bas
/ From the balcony hung two large sill
flags, one Of Greece and the other ,
= Italy, with small flags inter1ningle,
e In the center of the balcony rail wa
S hung the ricture of our grea, wa
e president, Woodrow Wilson.
e Around the hall were tables In III
form of a large square and diagonal
- across each corner was another tabl
= Within the square at the head of ii
h hall was the speakers table at whic
i were seated His Honor Mayor ].
Desmond, Miss Grace Greenwood. WI
n has recently returned from oversees
g with the Red Cross, Rev C. H. RicE
V etts, General William A Aiken. Car
7 tain Charles A. Hagberg and Mi,
n Florence Chapman. who was oversee
Il as an ambulance driver.
u LII IiI1 CEiileE OIL the square was II
= Harmony club. who generously cor
/. tributed their services, and renderf
music during the banquet. Mrs. Hem
= f. Church, who had the musical prC
. gram in charge. prepared the foIlowir
- program, which was carried out du1
y ing the course O. the dinner: Must
= Harmony club; tenor solos, Whe
;, Pershing's Men Go Marching In
u Picardy and When You Come Bac
u Eben Learned; music, Harmony clul
- soprano solos, When the Boys Con
Home and God Be With Our Boys TX
night, Mrs. Nelson T. CroweI: choir
of Vcnch songs by the returned hero,
music, Harmony club; contralto solo
The CAPTAIN by Rogers and Waitir
by Croke, Mrs. Helena NJ. T. Church
music, Harmony club; bass solos, TT
Vagabond and Best of All. Walter
Lester; music, Harmony club. All Il
soloists were given ringing applau.
from the boys and all We're forced
respond to many encores.
The following was the menu serve
by A. D. Zabriskie and his corps OF
assistants:
Oyster Soup.
Native Roast Turkey, Cranberry Sauc
Potatoes
Turnips. Celery.
Olives. Pickles.
Hot Buttered Rolls.
Apple Pie. Ice Cream.
Coffee
Cigars. Cigarettes.
At each plate was dainty pIa
card, the contribution of the Norwi
Art association. Each guest was givt
a package of cigarettes and cigar
these being furnished by Joseph
Geogre and George P Madden.
After the conclusion of the dim
and just before the dancing bega
Mayor J. ]. Desmond in behalf of t