Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-09
BY OVERSEAS VET.

BY courtesy of Capt. Arthur v.
Swedburg was permitted to
march yesterday In the parade OF
Battery F, One Hundred Twenty
third field artillery. and to recount
for The Argus the final impressions
and sentiments as expressed by
those war-weary heroes In the last
and grandest assembly Of that or
ganiZation.
Led by Captain Swedberg, whom
they all admire as their command
er, these men were the happieet
they had been In some time when
/ they detrained at 1853 D. N. at
Forty-third street, Rock Island,
amid the screeching of factory
whistles.
Looks like we're in for pa
rade," said one gunner, as they
were told to place their baggage,
including helmets and gas masks,
In one place in order that the
march might be as comfortable as
| possible,
"Thank goodness, was the epin-
ion of one next to me who had been
wounded, 1.-The people of Rock Is
land have shown better judgment
than they did in most cities where
the fellows had to march for hours
with full packs, 1t shows that
they're not here just to see what
we look like but because they've got
a dug-out of protection and ap-
probation in their hearts for every
man in the outfit, That was the
| sentiment of all when they saw the
arrangements that had been made.
1t didn't take them long to line
up when Captain 5wedberg asked
them to make their last real for
nation as a unit.
WELL" said No. man in my set
of tours, 81 guess it won't be much
trouble for me to hold down the
pivot in this march"
And the fellows hadn't seen the
crowd yet,
When we marched cut behind the
regimental band and swung into the
street everyone was surprised to
see such a large crowd of welcem-
| ers.
They must be all down at this
end" said sergeant, but buck
private put him right for oncei Il
took a look way down the street
and you can't see a thing but people
all the way; the whole tri-cities
must be here"
just as We fell int step in the
! opening of the parade on Forty
third street, north Of Fifth avenue,
trying to keep time with the regi-
mental band, another band started
playing in our rear and for a mo-
ment the step was lest.
But an old gFay-haired veteran of
another war heard him and came
back with this reply: There may
be too many bands to keep step
with, but it isn't half enough to
show our appreciation of you fell
lows if it can be shown in music. !"
Now and then some mother, sister
or sweetheart on the side Of the
parade would espy her boy in the
column and then there would be a
| dive iRte cur midst, and enc mere
soldier, uHdefsatsd in battle with
the enemy, would threw up his
hands and surrender to the charms
| that capture them eventually.
| Seen %e were in line with the
rest of the parade, including, be-
hind us, soldiers of the ~eSid war
previously discharged, in uniform;
Grand Army of The Republic of
Rock Island and Moline, in auto
mobilesi United Spanish War Vet
Grams of Rock Island aRd Moline;
Moline bands and, Bringing up the
reaE, the AeliRe ha#e guards.
The bands were soon in unison,
all organizations in perfect line,
while the police and seldiers from
the arsenal had the time Of their
lives trying to keep back the press
ing thrpngs from completely over
whelmfng every man who wore a
gold cEoss.
Every felloY IN the ranks re-
marked about the profusion of
flowers which being shower
ed FROM either side. Suddenly We
would run into bigger nest than
usual and. everyone would try his
pestzt9:ateh As rmazx Of the flozs-