Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-01

The first memorial service in this
town in honor of the men who have
made the supreme sacrifice was held
in the First Baptist church last
Thursday night. The pastor pre-
sided and one Of the features of the
service was the detail Of men in uni
form, in command of Lieut.. Albion
W. Blake. The church was well
filled with relatives and friends and
the services proved to the unusually
interesting. The musical features
were in keeping with the occasion
The first hymn was "America.' 4
solo. NO Cross But Crown" was fine
! ly rendered by Dean i. Wheeler, and
the sentiment of the song was very
significant of the occasion. A duet
by Miss Bessie Omission and the
pastor was also sung. On the table
in front Of the pulpit was panel on
which was arranged the photographs
of the five men in whose honor the
service was given. These were COW
cred with the American flag and at
the proper moment the pastor called
on +. II. Leech. who has charge of
the patriotic service i'll the Sunday
School, to call one by one the names
on the roll of honor and to unveil the
picture that corrcsponded with the
name. The pastor referred to the
feeling of sorrow that inevitably
would find place in such a service.
but said that he preferred to en-.
phasiZe the heroic service that these
men had rendered rather than dwell
upon the sad side of the matter. AS
each name was called the pastor
made fitting reference to the repart.
ed. The following men were on the
honor list: Capt. Charles Alton
Sturtevant, born in this town and
grew up in Oakland, receiving his ed
ucation at Coburn Classical Institute
and Colby College and the Boston
University School of Medicine.
He was a Spanish War veteran and
also saw two years of service in the
Philippines. He died in the discharge
of his duties at Camp Devens. Lieut..
| Gerald r. Stott was next in the list,
and while he was not a native of this
town, his family at present is living
here and the sad news came to them
! while here of his death after serving
calamity in one OF the fiercest battles
lover there" Corporal Edward Rus
sell Blaisdell was an Oakland boy who
f, enlisted last June. trained in one Of
! the southern camps and saw service
in a motor truck company in France.
His death was due to an attack of in
t1uenza which developed later into men
incS is. Pvt. FIR nklin O. Smith. 4 boy
ting from Worcester, Mass, had
DO oming a member of the family of
George Knox when he was six years
| old, receiving his education here. He
| was gassed and died Of bronchial pneu-
monia in France. Pvt. Harry Decker,
son of Glen Decker, was a member Of
the famous fighting eth Division and
/ died after fierce right on one of the
! sectors during night assault by the
! Huns. Interesting letters from men
who had seen service with these fallen
heroes were read showing the high
esteem in which they We're held. Prayer
was offered and then Lieut.. Blake set
the guard of honor after which all
those in the church had an opportunity
to file by and salute the heroes and the
flag.
George Wolstenholme Of Colby COL
lege will occupy the pulpit at the
First Baptist church Sunday morn
ing and evening. The Christian En-
deavor meeting at 6 o'clock will be