Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-19
FAIRFIELD HAS DOUBLE CELEBRATION
WELCOMES HOME Her SOLDIER BOYS
ON l3lST ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING

great deal Of work had been expenl-
ed upon them. The Catholic church
presented a very pretty sight with
the decorations. AS the parade
passed the Catholic church a number
Of small children stood on the steps
and sang patriotic songs. A huge
arch formed a charming picture oyer
the road in front of the Catholic
church and other arches. all made If
evergreens at the corner of Burriil
and Pleasant and Main streets were
also very much admired.
The parade was very long &od very
well arranged. which speaks well
for the executive ability Of the COM
mittees in charge. 1t took almost an
hour for the parade to pass one point
Water street, that section Of Fair
field known as Frenchtown, was re-
splendent in decorations. Practical
ly every home on Water street had
decorations of some sort and the
whole scheme was a delightful one
for the marchers to pass through.
Evergreen trees were used to a good
advantage. being placed upon the
lawns and then in turn decorated in
the National colcrs.
Memorial Park
Memorial park where were placed
the reviewing stand. and the speak
ers' stand was the center of interest
most of the day, for about this spot
the larger number of the folks gath
Dnfv CT nd in, ho
park did a rushing business.
Upon the speakers stand were seen,
Governor Carl e. Milliken, Colonel
Frank e. Hume, commander of the
l03rd Regiment, Adjutant General
Presson, Hon. George g. Weeks, who
presided. Rev. E. M. Holman. Percy
Crosby ard members Of the G. A. r.
Hon. George G. Weeks In a few
we'll chosen words introduced the
speakers of the afternoon. Rev. Mr..
Holman, pastor of the Fairfield Bap
fist church, delivered the address Of
welcome, a forceful message, some
thing that was timely and can be re-
membered for the good Of the COM
munity in days to come. He spoke
upon the necessity of proper meth
DDS Of reconstruction.
Percy Crosby
Percy Crosby, one Of the soldier
boys, answered the welcome for the
returned service men. He said that
this day had been dreamed of by
the boys in the camps and overseas
and had been boasted of by all the
boys in the trenches and dug-outs.
Ii Il firth 70 <0 ha ~
erS.
Governor MiIIiken
Governor Milliken spoke to the peo-
pie in a very impressive manner and
what he had to say was listened to
with the keenest interest. The is
sue which was fought for was the
defeat of German autocracy. The
progress of civilization is the realiza-
ton of unselfishness. The contribu-
ton to history is not in guns and
in money but in spirit. The folks
have cause to thank God that their
safety of their boys was in the hands
of military men and humane men.
The boys of the present war fought
for the same which the veterans OF
the Civil war fought. the freedom of
democracy. There are some special
things to remember about the 103rd
regiment. 1t was the first regiment
to be recruited to full war strength
after the declaring of war. 1t was
the first national guard to go over
seas complete. This was not because
of any influence but because it was
complete and ready to go.
Colonel Hume
Colonel Hume was given splendid
ovation and he spoke very under
standingly upon the work of the 1O3rd
regiment. He told the story of the
boys from the time that they left
Maine until after the signing of the
armistice. He paid glowing tributes
to the boys Of his" regiment. And
one could see that the boys of this
regiment are loved by him and that
a bond of good fellowship and af-
lection exists strongly.
July Is, 1918, was the great day
when four of Fairfield sons were
killed and when the great battle took
place. 1t was then that the 1O3rd
was the only troops between the
Huns and Paris at that point.
Between the speaking the Boys
Band of Madison played and follow
ing the afternoons speaking program
Chambers Band of Portland gave
a concert. During the afternoon this
splendid band from Portland gave an
entertainment at the Central Maine
Sanatorium.
At 4 o'clock an alarm Of fire was
rung in from Box 81 and the new
fire engine gave a demonstration.
The run down High street from
Western avenue was made in pref
ty quick time, considering that the
roadway was narrow and full OF