Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-07-09

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ty have knowledge is now a matter
of new history, well written on the
memory tablet of all who participated
and witnessed the event-the great
county welcome to the soldier boys in
knaki-staged and executed last Fri
day.
Falling on the nations natal day.
1t We're meet that it should have been
eNcellently carried through and an
I honor 10 the heroes who performed
{ the highest service of which man is
4 canable-the defense of ones country.
I With all due praise to poet and phil
/ osopher statesman and inventor, 9hil-
janthropist and preacher, but in the
I last analysis these and everything
else that goes to make up what we
leah civilization depends on the fight
ing man, the man who takes the big
chance.
The people of Vernon county took
this occasion and means of demonstra-
ting their appreciation of the patriot
/ ic work of the boys who battled in a
foreign land, and those who We're
also equipped and ready TO preserve
/ American institutions intact, and
American rights inviolate. and Amer
4 lean honor unsullied Splendid and
striking as was the demonstration, it
was but slight tribute, and goes but
a small way toward paying the debt
we owe the young men of Vernon
county, and which we can never pay
in full.
While this becoming welcome was
arranged by NirOqua soldier admirers
IAN Vernon county citizer.s made it a
success by their assistance in finance
and attendance. If there was ANY,
| thing lacking that would contribute to
/ the rousing good time planned for the
Censor has heard no suggestion to
4 that effect. In attendance it was GER
tainly record crowd, the largest
ever assembled within the county for
any purpose-estimated at $4,000 to
| 10000. The good people followed
their soldiers from every nook and cor
ner of the county. A fifteen MINI .
shower in the afternoon was the only
element that conspired to mar the
happiness and the program of the day
! Aside from this the conditions were
ideal. Viroqua men and women feel
that they have never performed a hap
pier stunt than this soldier welcome
THE GRAND PARADE
At ten o'clock soldiers commenced
to assemble at the two halls, w. ID.
Dyson taking charge of the gold chew
ron men, ole Anderson the silver chew
ron boys, at the Opera House and Odd
Fellow hall School children carry
ing bouquets gathered at the school
grounds, Flo Rogers and committee
taking charge of them. The "gold
star" fathers and mothers. Civil War
and Spanish-American war veterans
met at the library. At 1880 the diff
ferent units took their places on the
streets assigned them--the La Fargo
band heading east on Decker street
with the overseas men Just behind
More than two hundred were in the
ranks, under command of Lieutenant
Helgeson, with Captain Buffers and
Lieutenant Harrington in the file col
umn-and their soldierly bearing was
splendid to behold. Rev Smeby rem
dered valuable service in rounding up
the boys for the parade.
On the street just south, the Rich
| land Center band headed that section,
followed by the silver chevron men.
| Lieutenant Guy Smith was chosen by
the men as leader. Other commission
ed officers in line were LieutenantMor-
Hey and Haggerty and Captain G. f.
Lauder. Thirteen squads of soldiers
and one squad of sailors, 40 men in
all, completed this part of the parade.
In this section marched sixteen veter-
ans of the Spanish-American war-so
in this parade were represented the
men who had fought in three strug-
| giles on the side of human liberty and
advancement of civilizations sacred
cause. Lucius Favor was in charge
of this street
On the library street, A. J. Beat
formed the head of the auto section
| speakers, ministers, dozen gold star
parents, and twenty-five Civil war vet
Grams, being assigned positions of hon.
Mons Helgeson had control of the
other machines in the parade. j. h.
| Stoll was chairman of the parade.
At the signal from Chairman Dy-
son, the LaFarge band and overseas
men turned south on Rusk Avenue.
and as the rear Of that section passed
the street to the south, the Richland
| Center band section hooked on, then
in turn the auto sections. AT the
John Dawson corner the imposing pro-
cession turned west and north, sweep
| ing down Main street between the
closely packed thousands, cheers and
hand clapping following them in
waves.
At the foot of Main street, the pa
rade halted. Ole Anderson gave the
word TO the telephone office, the whis-
| tie sounded, and throughout the city
the church bells tolled while the kha-
ki-clad heroes stood at attention and
the civilians solemnly barred their
heads in mute and eloquent tribute to
the memory Of those who gave up
their lives that liberty might not per
ish from the earth. Between the
measured tones of the bells foated out
the beautiful silvery notes Of taps
the soldiers good night and farewell
played by o. G. Brown. 1t was a
simple ceremony, but intensely pa
thetic and inspiring. Then the flank
ing school children deluged the sol
diers with flowers, and march was re-
stunned to the Eckhart Park where the
exercises were held
AT THE PARK
Immediately on arrival at Eckhart
Park, the exercises were opened with
the soldiers Of the rebellion, gold
star fathers and mothers occupying
seats within the pavilion. The edi-
tor Of the Censor presided over the
great gathering, first presenting Rev.
F. A. Stephens, who offered fervent
prayer Of thanks for the preservation
OF our soldiers and word Of sympa-
thctic compassion for those who lost
loved ones in the unprecedented
world struggle.
The address Of welcome by Hon. G.
u. Smith and the response by Captain
G. f. Buffers, were typical of the men