Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-10-02

After many weeks of preparation for
the celebration of the homecoming of the
soldier and sailor boys who participated
in the defeat of the Huns in this country
and abroad. the event was finally staged
on Saturday of last week. That the
weather man was good and gave US one
of the grandest days for the occasion is
now we'll known. and this in a great
measure aided in making the celebration
a most glorious one.
The festivities of the day began with a
game of ball in the morning. an account
of which is given elsewhere in this issue.
The winning of the game put the Thur
mont boys in good humor for the after
noon events.
The Community Club Room soon after
and were given hearty welcome by the
ladies of the reception committee, viz,
Miss Daisy Waesche, chairman, Mrs.
Russell Unger, Mrs. William j. Stoner,
Mrs. Philip Rogers. Mrs. Joseph Nc
Daniel, Mrs. DR.. Seton, Mrs. Carl
Gall, Mrs. Jas. H. Firor, and Misses
Mary Freeze, Estelle Castle, Edith Grum-
bine and Ada Grouse. This same COM
mittee served at Town Hall in the even
ing and greeted the boys, veterans of the
civil war and guests as they arrived, and
also as listed the young ladies who had
charge of the tables.
Promptly at o'clock the soldiers, 60
strong, accompanied by veterans of civil
war and the Yellow Springs band, left
the Club room and marched to the lawn
at the residence of Mr.. and Mrs. d. R.
Rouzer where the exercises of the day
were held. Music by the band brought
thousand or more people to this place
to listen to the addresses of Chief Judge
Hammond Urner of Frederick and Col.
Chas. A. Little of Hagerstown.
The program opened with the singing
of the Star Spangled Banner, after which
prayer was offered by DR.. P. E. Heimer.
Major Geo. T. Castle, Master of Cere-
monies, then introduced DR.. E. C. Ke-
fauver, who in we'll chosen words well
coined the soldier boys home and also the
large crowd to the celebration.
Chief Judge Urner was then introduc
ed and spoke to the boys going to and
returning from the various training
camps and into the great battles fought
in France, and the part taken by Mary
land troops and particularly the boys
from Thurmont and Mechanicstown dis
trict in the war. He stated that of the
l18 young men going into the service
from this distr let, ten paid the supreme
sacrifice, the proportion being one out of
IL in the district, whereas the proper
tion for the entire country was one out
of AZ. making the death list from this
district four times as great as the nation
al average.
Those enlisting from Thurmont and
giving their lives for freedom are as fol-
lows:
Lieut.. Edgar ]. Eyler, wound ed Sept.
90, 1918; died Oct. l. 1918.
Raymond L. Stull, killed in action Oct.
9, 1918.
Corp. Stanley Toms, killed in action
Oct. 25, 1918.
Louis Adams, killed in action Oct l8,
1918.
Bugler Roy o. Kelbaugh, killed in ac-
ton Nov 8, 1918.
Jesse Pryor, died in France Sept. l,
1918
Clifford Stitely, severely wounded Nov.
S, 1918; died Nov. 6, 1918.
Benjamin Cline. killed in action Oct. 8,
1913
James S. Waters, died at Annapolis,
Md, Oct 16, 1918.
( William Fraley, died at Gettysburg,
+ Pa, Oct 10. 1918.
Col. Chas. A. Little of Hagerstown,
under whose command many of our boys
! trained at Admission, Ala, was the next
speaker. COL Little spoke in glowing
terms of the spirit and fighting qualities
of the boys from Frederick county, there
being none superior. He recalled his re-
tirement on account of age from the
command, and particularly spoke of pre-
paredness. AS he views the situation,
the United States should at all times be
prepared to protect her honor and integ-
rity against other nations of the world.
The peace treaty, 80 much spoken about
at this time, will not prevent future war,
and he warned all present not to make
the mselves believe there would be no
more war.
After the addresses, the band gave a
concert, and the assemblage joined in the
singing of num er of popular songs.
During the exercises marked tribute
was paid those who made the Supreme
Sacrifice. AS the band played a dirge
the entire assemblage arose and remain
ed standing while quartet in the dis
lance sang a verse of Nearer my God
to Thee" Immediately after this q
bugler in the distance sounded taps.
This was one of the most impressive
moments of the day and carried the
minds of those present to Flanders Field
and other resting places of the boys who
went but didn't come back and the mem
DRY of whom will glorify the patriotic
history of this locality.
Much of the success of the Homecom-
, ING ia dine TO the indefatipable efforts OF