The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-11-11

Keokuk Concert band, the Community
band and the Peoples Institute band
which played during the entire
morning at various places on the
street. At 10:45 O'clock, the leaders
of these three bands gave the signal,
and every organization played the
national anthem of the United States,
1.-The Star Spangled Banner" while
former service men snapped into a
salute, and civilians paid their honors
by doffing OF hats.
This was the signal for the letting
loose of bedlam, just as was a flash
over the telegraph wires a year ago
the cue for the beginning of the cele-
bration then. Bells pealed and fac
tory whistles sent their voices over
the city in triumphant screams. Elk
tensions were spliced to the DELL
ropes at the fire stations, and eager
men and women helped pull these,
Just as they did a year ago. Auto
mobile horns of all tones and shades
joined in and for fifteen minutes
there was a good imitation of tie
twelve hours of noise and joy wnich
broke loose last year.
Soldiers are Interested.
Overseas soldiers were interested
spectators of the celebration fhis
morning. They had heard las. year
through letters of how the people
here at home turned out AMI :ele-
brated, while they were wallowlng
around in the mud of France, and
they were interested in seeing how
it was done.
All morning long automobile leads
of people came into keokuk from the
surrounding territory. The autos
brought Lee county soldiers and
their friends and families. The after
noon trains brought big delegations
from Fort Madison and the upper
part of the county, and automobiles
crowded the river ROAD and the Don
Nelson road all during the day. a
delegation came from Kahoka, too.
All Of the delegations were met by
members of the reception committee
and escorted UP the street by bands.
Actual Observance Begins.
The actual celebration of the day
began this afternoon. The morning
and early afternoon hours were given
over to the more informal features
of the welcome home observance
Buddies met buddies, and talked
over the old days for minute when
they were all huddled around little
old fire in the mud, trying to dry
out a pair of hobs, or when they
combed them out of their shirts with
a long stick. Even the old top-kicks
and the NJ. P.'s got some house to-
day. Here and there an officer loom
ed I'D on the horizon, but sam Brown
belts are forgotten day like this
and everybody was just plain buddy
to everybody else today.
Keokuk theaters opened theil
doors to the men in khaki and these
were crowded during most OF the
day.
! Parade Is Feature.
The big parade at half past four
was the feature of the afternoons
celebration. Flags, bands. decorated
floats, and hundreds OF marchers
made it a sight not to be forgotten
At the head Of the parade was car
ried an immense silk American flag
Behind the flag marched the Fort
Madison band, leading the first divi
sion. The city officials of Keokuk
and of all Of the towns In the county
followed next. There were officials
from Fort Madison, Donnellson, Mont
rose, Charleston. West Point, and In
fact every town in the county. was
represented by some official. With
the officials marched the members
of the official reception committee
of which John Nagel is the chairman
Next in line came the attorneys OF
Lee county who served as the lega
advisory board to the drafted mer
and the exemption board. Following
them was the medical examining
board OF the county.
Soldiers in lrne.
The second division was headed
with huge American banner, and
the Keekuk Concert band played the
march music for this contingent. III
this division marched ung lines OF
former soldiers, sailors and marines
of Keokuk, Fort Madison and all oil
Lee county. marching m columns o.
SQUADS. The men marched with the
old swing that characteriZes the
American soldier, and makes him q
marked figure wherever he parades
Uniforms and overcoats and hats OF