Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-09
MAD WITH JOY,
ALEDO CREETS
: BATTERY BOYS
More Than Two Thousand ThrOng
Burlington Yards to Welcome
Home Their Heroes.
Especial to The Argus)

Aledo, Ill, June 9.-Battery B,
One Hundred Twenty-third field ar
tillery, came home to her own Sat
urday night and the gallant gun
ners knew that the welcome they
received came from the hearts of a
proud, grateful people. They had
been cheered and feted from the
day nearly a month ago when they
strobe down the gangplank at Ho-
boken and on to American soil once
more, but the greeting from the g.
300 home folks who smothered them
into their arms as they jumped
from their special train, meant more
to these bronze heroes than all the
honors that had been showered
upon them before.
The first train load arrived on
the Dolly at a little after o'clock.
Two minutes later they. were swal-
lowed up in the throng and within
half an hour these veterans of the
Prairie division could be Seen driv-
ing cars about the city, sharing re-
freshments with friends and stroll
ing happily into movie with the
best girl on their arm, Just like
they used to do two years ago be-
fore they went away to camp.
Twenty-Five more of the battery
boys came at midnight over the
Rock Island Southern. and though
the crowd was a little smaller at
this hour, the enthusiasm was Just.
as great. and they knew that they
had at last reached the best billets
IN the world.
City Bedecked.
Aledo was gaily bedecked with
flags and bunting, and stand had
been erected at the Burlington sta
ton where the Aledo band played
popular airs of the war. The dem
onstration was a great public out
burst and no attempt was made to
>Garry out formal program of well
come.
Captain CarIstrOm to Speak.
Captain Oscar F.. Carlstrom will
be the principal speaker on We'd
nesday's program arranged for
boys Of old Company B and all
Mercer county men in the One
Hundred Twenty-third field artil-
lery by the Company B Boosters
of Aledo
The first thing, and one of the
main ones, as least as far as the
boys are concerned, is the ban
uuet which is to be served to only
the men who saw service. Pres
ent plans contemplate seating $50
and also members of the AledC
band. making the Total approx
mateIy 200 The feast is to be
staged in the Masonic hall, for
merly Aledo's Red Cross rooms.
The menu will he served by
mother and sister members of the
Company B Boosters. Music will
be furnished by the Aledo band.
The Program.
At 2 O'Clock the parade is sched-
uled to begin, the personnel ard
marching order not yet being def
initely arranged. At o'clock the
program will be opened With a Sc
lection by the AIedo band. Judge
George A Cooke will preside. In
vocation will be given by Rev. +.
E. Shut, to be followed by a song
by Aledo's Male quartet. Judge
Cooke will then extend to the boys
4dercer cuurty's welcome and the
Battery B quartet will render a
few numbers. Response TO Judge
Cookies address will be made by
Captain James B. Rereth of Mon
mouth, Battery B commander, and
selections by the Aledo quartet and
the band will precede the main
speech by CAPTAIN Carlstrom. The
oencdfction, read by Rev. r. G.
Pnkerton, and the song. Amer
ica," will conclude the program.