The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-11
CELEBRATING VICTORY
DAY IN OCALA
Our City Joyfully Welcomed
Marion County's Brave De-
tenders of the Flag and
the Nation

Bright and early this morning, our
sidewalks echoed that quick and
springy step that once learned is
never forgotten until old age clogs
the once swift and steady feet. The
vanguard of the ex-service men had
arrived. Every hour more and more
arrived until the business center was
crowded with their olive-drab and
blue. No need to say Ocala was glad
to see them. A year ago our city
celebrated the victory they helped to
win. But in many hearts was the
fear that victory came too late to
save some, and that the particular
loved one was lying cold beneath the
sod of France or was suffering from
wounds in some hospital-a fear with
few confirmed, with the many not
relieved for weeks. But most of them
are with US today, and we know
where the others are.
Soon Old Glory fluttered to the top
OF the flagstaff on the public square
and the day had officially begun.
The splendid Gainesville band. i'm
pressed to add to the pleasure, was
on duty early, dispensing its excellent
music. This band is made up of ex-
service men. The last time it came
to see US, twenty-six months ago was
while Company A was quartered here,
preparatory to going to Camp Wheel
er. 1t was live bunch of boys then;
it is company of veterans now.
The soldiers, their relatives and
friends kept pouring in until there
were thousands in town. Shortly be-
fore noon they all repaired to the fair
grounds, where they found dinner
awaiting them. The arrangements
were good. The dinner was served
from long tables over on the west side
of the grounds. where the barbecue
had been cooked. The people came
up to these tables thru passages, or
rather paths with guideboards on
each side, each person was given a
generous ration and retired by an
other passage to the open. 1t was
gargantuan feast. Seven beeves,
twenty-six sheep, thirty-five hogs and
of bread, potatoes, ETC.,
made up the menu.
Those who acted as walters were
among Ocala's leading citizens, name |
ly: Percy Perkins, C. E. Winston, w. |
A. Wilds. c. G. Frazier, ]. w. Talley, |
Ben Rheinauer. R. S. Rogers, H. A |
J. NJ. Thomas. A. C. Blow
ers, G. E. Morgan, w. p. Huckaby, |
Calvin West, Glenn Purvis, Ed Tucker,
z. F. Condor, Max Israelson, L. w. |
Duval, Louis Chazal. w. d. earn,
Dick Stroud. Whit Palmer. bread cut
ters, Jim Taylor, kitchen police, J. w.
Akin, John Edwards, Holmes Walters,
Ed Bennett, J. G. Johnson, Barney
Spencer, c. E. Simmons, N. r. Dehon,
Frank Ditto, Harvey Clark. Eugene
Dobbs, Jake Gerig, ]. d. McCaskill,
c. G. Barnett, L. H. PillaRs, w. L.
Colbert, w. c. Meade, Mobley, E. T.
Eelvenston, w. w. Stripping. A. j.
Simmons, A. c. Bray, C. c. Simmons,
Arthur Cobb, c. W. Moremen, Isaac
Hill, w. T. Gary and Jim Melton,
general .funky.
The soldier boys, as they consumed
their chow, chatted with their friends,
and looked up at the bright Florida
sky, may have been too much taken
up with the present to look back to
the past, but the thoughts of some,
we know, went back a year to the
scdden fields and shattered villages
of France, where they stood, their
ears tingling with the sudden and
surprising silence of the guns, think
ing of home. and how long it would be
before they would see it again.
The great Marion County Service
Flag, with its $50 stars swung Iazily
from it's staff in front of the grand
stand and those who looked upon it
thought gratefully how few of its
stars had turned to gold. But here
and there amid the crowd was some
heart that ached for a brave boy
sleeping his eternal sleep amid the
hills of France.
1t is estimated that there were
5000 people at the fair grounds, and
all had a bountiful supply. We will
try and tell you the rest Of it tomor-
row.