The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-14
With Flags and Flowers, Cheers and Crowds,
Heroes of the Famous Hawkeye Regi-
ment are Honored Here.
SCENE OF PATRIOTIC ENTHUSIASM
Parade of the Men of the Best Fighting Regi-
ment in the American Army in France
is One Long Ovation.

Iowa > lnOSo " AOAAAON0 vs.
ment of the world war crossed
the Iowa state line this fore
noon into a widespread din Of
loyously shrieking whistles, 9
railroad station in an amphi-
theater of color and home folks
q great mass of people extend
inc for a mile through which
they marched, the targets OF
flowers and welcoming shouts
from sidewalks, windows and
house roofs.
When the long troop train from
Camp Upton slipped into the keo
kuk union station and stopped, It ex
landed from Main street TO the Tai.
bolt elevator.
II was a long strip Of brown coach
sides with broad line in the middle
Of khaki shoulders under shining
faces leaning from every window
and crowdins every platform.
MOTHERS WAITING FOR THEM
The station platform had been oc
cupled for nearly an hour by the
mothers, sisters, sweethesrts, fathers
and brothers of men who left keo
kuk nearly two years ago, and re-
turning today a part Of ono OF the
most famous regiments of the whole
American army Of three millions.
Some of the mothers had packages,
and one basket containing some
thinus cooked like mother always
cooked them.
Those who had passes admitting
them to the station were kept back
fifteen feet from the train until after
It had stopped and the soldiers had
detrained.
Then there was rush for the
line, embraces and many hand
shakes.
FORMING THE PARADE.
In very few minutes the batta!.
lon composed Of Companies D, &, F,
G and H, and the sanitary detach.
ment of the 16sth infantry, were in
column of tours between two tracks.
The keokuk Concert band played
"Hail, Hall, the Gangs All Here" as
the train came to stop, and then
moved to the foot OF Main street
There had come to the station with
It the city officials Of keokuk, ex
cept Mayor Lotion. On account OF
the death of Mrs. Lotions mother
last evening, the mayor did not par.
ticipate in the festive part of the
welcome home to the soldiers, and
only did the official hcnors by speak
ing a formal welcome at the EIks'
club.
In almost less time than it takes
to tell It, the column had joined the
band and was on its way up Main
street hill, into the cheering crowds
awaiting the parade.
THE COLUMN FORMATION.
First came a squad Of military
police, In command of Lieutenant
Bentley, hopping up the street Of
stragglers who had crePt through
the guard lines.
Then Sam c. Westcott marched
proudly carrying the large silk flag
with Its fringe Of gold tasseis and
its gold eagle at the top of its staff.
The band, playing march. pre-
coded Mayor Bell, Of Burlington, and
city executives from ottumwa, Oska-
loosa and other cities.
Then came the service flag of the
regiment with It's ga gold stars, car
ried as banner by part of the color
guard which attended both it and
the national colors, under command
OF James (. L. Semones.
The battalion's own coiors were
carried by its own color sergeant and
guard in the middle Of the column
OF soldiers, between Companies E
and F.
KEokuk MEN FOREMOST.
Marching at the head Of tho men
were Major Charles J. Casey, COM
handing the battalion, Lieutenant
Colonel j. T. Davidson and Major n.
2. coe, representing the United
States and the state Of Iowa, respec-
lively.
company had the right Of the
line and the foremost place, and In
It were the men of keokuk,s Own,
the old Company L Of the First Iowa
national guard, who were transferred
70 the 16Sth infantry at the begin
nlng of the war and fought all over
France with it.
The other companies came in Sc
quence, with fifteen PAGES between
lhem. and the entire column was
about three blocks long.
When it reached Second street. the
guard line, it met the first cheers
Ano applause. BY the time it passed
ihird street it was in the middle of
4 vast concourse of people reaching
Tar out Main street.
Fine Soldiers Deserved Flowers.
Tho npnn1a could rn+ no rNnA,tad