The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-07-05

| Under the most ideal weather con
ditions, Bennington's Public Welfare
Association entertained the town Fri
| day with a celebration that has sci
dom been excelled in Bennington and
never recently equalled. Everything
passed off smoothly and creditably
and every event was witnessed by
crowds that far exceeded any 4th OF
July anniversary of former years
No one who saw the parade Friday
morning can ever accuse Bennington
of having no public spirit, as NO finer
spirit of patriotism and cooperation
could be shown than was manifested
by the individuals and organizations
that participated in forming the
column.
Excellent floats have appeared on
Bennington streets before. but rarely
before have there been so many at
one time, all of which typified the
spirit of the day and showed such ar.
tistic ability in their preparations
II would be difficult indeed to attempt
to choose the best as each one effec-
lively and yividly portrayed what its
designers wished and each one added
a new interest to the parade.
The condition of the treasury of the
Public Welfare Association was ma
terially improved by the proceeds OF
the afternoons entertainment at
Hunts Grove. over 1900 people went
through the gates to the grove. and,
in spite of the scorching heat,
thoroughly enjoyed the afternoons
program. Over s400 was taken in al
the main gate ON County street and
the proceeds obtained from the en-.
tire admissions and from the refresh.
ment counter in the grove amounted
to well over S700. This amount is an
increase of nearly one hundred per
cent over last year. =
The procession Friday morning
marched in practically the same order
as was printed in the Banner Thurs
day. Everyone who either promised
to be in the parade or to have a rep
resentation there was as good as his
word which reflects much credit on
the way local people assisted those in
charge in preparing for this event.
The North Bennington members de
serve special praise for the excellent
part they took in the parade The
entire second division was made ny
of North Bennington floats and dele
cations and the showing they made
was the cause of much admiration
and applause by the onlookers.
The parade started down Main
street shortly after ten o'clock Music
was furnished by the local Odd Eel
lows Band, the Drum Corps of the
Catholic Order of Foresters, and the
Italian Stringed Orchestra. Leading
the procession was the standard
bearer. Sgt Roy Chase. formerly OF
the 26th Division. He was followed
by Capt. ]. II. Cole and two aids.
Following the Odd Fellows band in
the first division we're the delegations
of Bennington's soldiers and sailors
who served in the World War Prac
tically every service man who found
| it possible to do so put on his uni.
form and Joined the ranks again.
There were well over a hundred sol,
diers in the parade. The sailors in
white uniforms and leggins, lead by
Lieut.. j. ID. Lane, Lieut.. John n
Leonard, and Ensign John D. Gronin
made an excellent appearance and
made Bennington's representation in
the navy a worthy one.
Following the sailors. came the
Croix de Guerre float, float prepared
under the direction of Arthur Elliot in
memory of George J. Oesterle, the
one Bennington boy to win the
French war cross. Next in the pro
cession was the representation of the
Red Cross, followed by the Catholic
Womens Service League, G. A. r
Veterans in automobiles and the
! Daughters of the American Revolu
ton. This concluded the first divis
| iOE
The North Bennington division was
led by the overseas men from that
village, marching in uniform led by
Lieut.. Fred Cushman. Then followed
in order. float built in the form oi
an airplane constructed and driven
by Elmer II. Johnson; the North Ben
nington Fire Department, deIega
! tion from the North Bennington Con
gregational church, float prepared
by the w T. Q. u entitled the "old
Oaken Bucket" North Bennington
Playground Association.
The third division of the parade
was led by the Bennington Fire De
partment. the Putnam Hose, the STARK
Hose, the Eagle Hose, and the Brad
ford Hook and Ladder Company. The
local fremen turned out anG
looked exceptionally we'll in their uni
forms
1t is difficult to give the exact or
der of the floats and other feature:
in the parade in the third and fourth
divisions but the participants were
as follows: Forester's Fife and Drum
Corps; Charles Cooper Estate Floa
"His Masters Breath; Starl
Lodge No. 8; George Bushee of Ben
nington on decorated bicycle; the
Schenanigan Kids, Henry Shanahan
driver, a float upon which rode two
boys and two girls; Black Cat Tex
tile Company float, Joseph Longtin
driver; Pownal Center Junior Farm