The Hope pioneer., 1919-06-19
THOUSANDS GATHER At HOPE
FOR SOLDIERS HOME
COMING CELEBRATION
MILLION DOLLAR BAND BIG ATTRACTION

MILLION DOLLAR BAND BIG ATTRACTION
People for Fifty miles around
enjoyed gala day in Hope.
In the last twenty years there have
been some large crowds in the city
of Hope for special occasions but
never has there been as large a one
as that gathered here on last Satur-
day in honor Of the service men who
are now home. We have heard vari-
Gus estimates made as to the number
and several Of them by people who
were in position to make reliable
estimates and they place the number
between $500 and 10000.
The people began arriving long
before the program was scheduled to
start and by the time the parade
formed the streets were packed with
people and automobiles. The COM
mittee in charge of the decorations
had done their work we'll and the
eyes of the visitors were greeted by
a profusion Of flags and bunting ar
tistically draped in places of advan-
tage. Along the roads leading to the
city and through the streets were
placards with "Steele County Wei
comes You" and the lawns over the
city bore the hospitable, message,
"You Are Welcome to Use This Lawn
for Your Picnic Dinner. The stores
and residences also did their share
in adding to the gala day appearance
with generous flag displays.
The main feature of the day was
the Million Dollar Band, one of the
best known military musical organi-
cations in the Northwest. They re-
turned from most successful tour
in Iowa for the Home Coming Day
for Steele County. The band re-
turned from France about the first
Of the year, having been. connected
/
while in foreign service that they ac-
quired their name, "The Million Dol
lar Band, from the statement of one
of the high officers that that band is
II worth a million dollars to the A. E
F."
The parade started at eleven o.
clock, lead by the band. About one
4 hundred of the returned soldiers in
II uniform followed, and it was an in
Il spring sight to see the boys marching
along to the military music. The
1 G.. A. R. members came next in an
i automobile and were ollowed by
II the members Of the Red Cross Branch
| es, and the Junior Red Cross. The
school children came next in costume
representing the Allies, Liberty Loan
War Savings Stamps and other or
j ganizations connected with the war
work.
The time between the parade and
the afternoon program was given
+ over to enjoying a picnic dinner
Barrels Of hot coffee and ice cold
lemonade were on hand and distri-
buted free to all who wished it, at
+ the opera house. This was in charge
! of the Red Cross Branch and dinner
was served to all soldiers who had no
:; other arrangements.
At two o'clock the crowd gathered
: at the ball grounds where a speakers
stand had been erected, and the pro-
gram began. The program opened
with selection by the band and the
invocation by Rev. Bergman. Mr.
r. A. Lathrop then gave the address
: of welcome. The address of the day
was given by Hon. Curtis NJ. John
son, of Rush City, Mimi, who stated
4 in his Introductory remarks that he
: and his brother sell hardware and
: ste (a)el goods for living. In spite
! of this handicap he gave splendid
address based on the definition Of the
\ four words, Enthusiasm" "Ambi-
tion", Optimism, and Happiness"
! Mr.. johnson is most entertaining
talker and altho he kept his audience
: in continual happy state of mind
with his witty stories he never failed
i to bring out their moral application.
Musical numbers on the program
were furnished by the High School
] Glee Club and Sextette, and a flag
! drill by the Eighth Grade girls and
: were exceedingly well given. A short
concert was given by the Band after
which the crowd moved to the ball
game.
Hatton, who has one of the best
. teams in this part of the state, had
: been secured to play against Hope
! In the opening innings they started
l off with a rush and before the home