Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-31
ALl0MAHA
WELCOMES
SOLDIERS
BACKBONE
Amid Uproar of Cheers and
Gun Firing Nebraska Heroes
of Argonne Parade While
En- Route to Funston.

After going through the can
paigns of St. Mihel and the Ar
gonne, the men of the 355th infantry
and the 34lst machine gun battalion
were equal to the stress and strain
of yesterdays reception during their
few hours in Omaha en- route from
Camp Upton to Camp Funston.
Although it made their hearts
beat quicker to meet and greet the
home folks once more. it was rather
irksome for the soldiers to march
in their heavy clothing and helmets.
and some carrying rifles. But they
marched willingly because the home
folks had asked it. and they went
on their way, to return in few days
as civilians again and to resume their
pursuits of peace.
Carry Honors Lightly.
Heroes all, these men of the 8oth
division, they carried their honors
lightly as true westerners, feeling
that they had acquitted themselves
as II II and are now anxious, not
for the plaudits of the throng, but
to get home to their kin and loved
ones.
Omaha did itself proud iii giving
expression to the deep feeling of
honor and gratitude with which
these defenders of liberty are held.
Music, flowers, creature comforts
tor the inner man, sirens and noises
of all kinds; tender words of well
come-all these forms of welc5nlcN
contributed to make the occasion
a truly memorable one.
Crowds Were Patient.
The reception was observed with
splendid cooperation by the or
CARNATIONS and individuals partici-
pating. The trains bearing the 355th
did not arrive in time to permit
all of the men to march to the High
school grounds at thesame time, but
the crowds were patient and gave
the three sections of the parade
rousing salvo of applause.
The machine gun battalion, which
was parked i'll the railroad yards
Thursday night, moved in regular
formation from the Union depot at
$50 in the morning to the school
grounds, where relatives and friends
were in waiting After wait Of an
hour and half the first section of
the 355th infantry passed over the
parade route, and, about an hour
later the second section of the in
fantry followed, all proceeding to
the High school grounds for a good
home feed"
The machine gun men entrained
at noon for Lincoln; at lis D. m.
the first train of the infantry was
on its way, and at 2:30 p. m. the
second infantry train was clearing
the yards and on it's way to the
capital city. From Lincoln the
three trains proceeded last night to
Camp Funston. where the men will
go through the formalities of being
discharged from the service.
Great Welcome Home.
The route from Union depot to
high school grounds was a solid lane
of admirlng people, anxious to say
Welcome home" to Nebraska's
boys who did their full measure of
service in the battle fields overseas.
These were some of the Americans
who bore the brunt of the fighting
at St. Mihiel and the Argonne.
"The Fighting Farmers" they were
designated along the western front.
The men appreciated the feelings
of the home folks, but they were
not demonstrative. They we're
serious and they were frank to saw
that the chief thought in their
minds was the thought of returning
home to stay.
Mothers. fathers, sisters, wives,
sweethearts and others arrived N
Capitol hill early yesterday morn
ing with supplies of eatables. For
the men who were not otherwise
provided for, luncheon was served
in the basement OF the school build
ing. Every provision was arranged
to make the stay at the school
grounds as pleasant as possible.
Governor Mckelvie arrived with
the first section of the 355th and
occupied a seat with the reviewing
party in front of the city hall.
The next big feature of the line
of march occurred when the heroes
entered the southeast corner of the
Central High school grounds. This
was. in its way, the prettiest re-
ception scene of the line of march.
Three hundred boys and girls of
Central school formed a lane from
the entrance of the ground to the
front of the school. The girls.
dressed in white, carried baskets of
flowers, and the boys carried .lags.
They held two long chains to mark
the lane,
Two distinguished service crosses
and one Croix de Guerre were worn
by members of the 34lst. Sergt.
David Kline and Pvt. John Kelley
OF Omaha, are proud possessors of
the D. S. c. medal, while Mai Err
nest F. Watson, ST. Paul. officer in