The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-07
T.HRONGS PAY
TRIBUTE TO
WAR HEROES
OF INDIANA
Hoosier Fighting Men Given
First Welcome by State at
Indianapolis Thousands
See Marching Troops.
$4,000 IN PARADE
CIV Associated Pressl


INDIANAPOLIS. May AT the
same time that an abstract of the
treaty of peace presented to Germany
was coming over the wires today, In
diana formally extended a welcome to
its fighting sons and daughters.
Fifteen thousand soldiers, sailors,
marines, nurses, and men and women
whose duties in connection with the
war required that they wear uniforms
marched here over a five-mile route
between solid lines of men, women and
children, held to the sidewalks by
ropes stretched during the night.
Wounded soldiers, sailors and marines
rode in automobiles.
Starting at point west of the State
Capitol, the parade began to move as
bombs exploded and whistles blew.
Before the marchers could be seen
cheers could be heard, and the shout
ing. flag waving and extending of
greetings went through the assembled
crowds like tidal wave, always a lit
tie ahead Of the soldiers.
1000 Men of 15oth.
Thousands who had 10 near rela-
tives or friends in the parade were
happy because their neighbors were
happy Thousands of others were
ones were home safely again. In the
eyes of many there were tears, but
tears Of happiness as they saw a loved
one pass by.
There were many among the spec
tators whose joy was entirely in the
fact that others sons had escaped the
dangers of battle unharmed. They
were the men and women who had
lost sons, during the war. They had
taken up points of vantage along the
line of march, not because they hoped
to see loved one march proudly past,
but because they desired to welcome
home those who returned. Many Of
them could not keep back the tears.
however
More than 1000 of the men in the
parade were 150th Field Artillery boys
Indiana's contribution to the And
(Rainbow) Division.
First State Greeting.
The celebration, which was the most
pretentious and the most inspiring
event ever undertaken in the history
of Indiana, was the first of statewide
character In expression of he deep ap-
probation of those too old and too
young to fight in honoring those who
answered the call to arms.
Although the parade was not sched-
uled to start until 1890 o'clock this
afternoon, no time was lost by the
thousands of arrivals on the early
morning trains in going to vantage
points along the route of march, and
o'clock found the grand stands fill.
ing, windows occupied, while not
few were on roofs of buildings and
many who had brought cushions or
stools were seated along the curbs
Rooms in hotels, stores and private
residences, which had been engaged
several days ago, in some cases 1t is
said by spectators, brought good
prices, paid without complaint. In
q number of instances, automobiles
were run into front yards of residences
and parked before the anti-vehicle
traffic regulations were enforced, and
in them families awaited the sounding
of whistles, which signaled the start
OF the parade.
Flags in Profusion.
The exterior of the buildings and the
streets over which the returned SOL
:. diers marched were prettily and elab-
\ orately decorated. American hags,
Nstreamers of bunting and other mate
rials were used in profusion from the
sidewalks to the roofs OF buildings.
Every lamppost along the line of
march had been painted white, and
about each were attached four white
spearlike lances with gilded spear
heads.
Most attention in the decorations
was given to dressing up Victory
Circle" where the principal ceremon-
les were held. Large white columns,
topped with gilded balls, were placed
at fifty-foot intervals about the Circle.
Inserted in the balls were the staffs
bearing the flags of the leading allied
nations Festoons OF greenery were
strung about the columns and from
column to column across the street
Victory Arch, situated at the south
entrance to the Circle on Meridian
street, was closed by silken cord.
until the approach of the veterans.
when Henry Nicolai, veteran OF the
Civil war, and Russell H. Harrison,
son of President Benjamin Harrison,
and a veteran of the Spanish-American
war, with drawn sabres cut the cord,
thus signifying that none but veterans
were permitted to pass through. AS
they approached, flower girls scattered
flowers in their path while others
showered flowers upon them as they
passed through the arch.