The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-11
GIVEN DECORATION
First of Shawnee Soldiers Dec
GRATED at Auditorium.
Large Crowd Was Present To
Watch Ceremonies.

With out-thrust chests showing
their pride. with glistening eyes show
ing their deep feeling in the matter,
more than two hundred soldiers sent
by Topeka and Shawnee county to the
world war received the individual
bronze memorials offered by a CRATE
full people at the auditorium Thurs
day night.
It was the first reception of Topeka
and. Shawnee county given in honor
of the men the county sent into the
military service of the United States
''for the duration of the war" 1t was
an occasion which will be repeated
periodically until every one of the men
who went to the wars from Shawnee
county has been decorated with his
bronze badge of service and his ribbon
of city's and a county's apprecia-
ton.
Community Singing.
The auditorium was we'll filled for
the initial ceremonies. The audience
entered the building in ones, and twos
and in punches to the strains of mar
tial music played by the Ninth Bat
talon band of the Kansas state guard.
Just before the beginning of the pro-
gram the women of the local chapter
of the American Red Cross entered in
by the full force of service men pres
ent to receive decoration.
Community singing of America
and the Star Spangled Banner, led by
B. P. Bartlett. officially called the
meeting to order. Lieutenant Nash,
of the Canadian expeditionary force,
hero survivor of Byng's famous
charge over Vimy Ridge, was the first
speaker of the evening. introduced by
w. A. Biby, chairman for the evening.
Lieutenant Nash told his story of the
Vimy charge without bombast. Quietly
but wildly, with his face almost re-
| fleeing the emotions of battle, Nash
spoke of the famous battle He
| spoke of the long wait in the trenches
| the wait for the zero hour. He visual
| lied the successive waves as they wen,
over the top and disappeared into the
| smoke and muck of battle. He spoke
| or the men dropping on either side
| and of the steady walk forward of the
| charging troops. He told of the TAX
| ing of the final objective and the I'M
the men to go ahead. Nash was one
| OF the best war speakers ever heard
from Topeka rostrum
Huffman Welcomed Soldiers.
Lieutenant Governor Huffman well
coined the soldiers and the sailor.
| back to their homes for Governor AL
/ len. who was unable to be present al
the meeting. Senator Capper ex.
pressed the appreciation of Kansas
and of Shawnee county for "heroic
| patriotic services rendered." Senator
| Curtis told of the war expenditures OF
| the nation, gave facts and figures ga.
lore,s pleaded for the immediate flota.
ton of the great victory loan and gave
the promise of the appropriation com.
m1ttee of congress to see that the
| money, not already owing on wal
| debts, is either spent wisely or is re-
turned to the bondholders.
After Senator Curtis finished the
service men were put in formation by
| Capt Luther Tillotson, and in squad.
of twenty-five or thirty were decor.
| ated by the members of the Military
Sisterhood. The meeting closed with
| a moments silent prayer for the mer
| who did not come back; the mer
whose presence is designated by 6
| gold star on the flag of Kansas.