Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-06-04
Wildwood Pays Tribute to
Heroic Dead
Floral Ship Launched in Pres
ence OF Thousands

uleI anu sailor dead of the Civil, Span.
lsh-American and World Wars on Me-
mortal Day.
One Of the greatest crowds in Wild
woods history assembled on boardwalk
and beach to witness the launching of
the floral ship "Mystic," a small boat
with masts and sails of streamers Of
flowers and deck covered with ferns.
10 the solemn music of "Onward,
Christian Soldiersn and Nearer, MY
God, to Thee,n played softly by the
band, the ship was borne on the shoul-
ders of the Wildwood Beach Patrol and
cast upon the ocean waves.
Who could forget this memorable
event? An unclouded sky, the great
assemblage, an airpane like a man.
moth butterfly above 1t, the rythmic
cadence of the restless waves, the we'll
rendered and appropriate music, the
long line of little girls clothed in white
and bearing small American flags, the
aged veterans Of the Rebellion and the
men in khaki who fought valisntly in
more recent wars, and the beautiful
blue silk flag with lettering of gold of
the Byron Pennington Croker Post,
No. 1874, American Legion, the New
Jersey coat of arms blazoned on yel-
low banner and Old Glory, the three
borne by stalwart uniformed ex-ser-
vice men-all this forming a most
impressive, most inspiring spectacle.
The parade, which was headed by
mbiase's Band and marshaled by
j. Albert Harris and w. Courtright
Smith, included Civil War veterans
riding in automobiles, uniformed SER
vice men and Yeowomsn Joy Bright,
daughter of State Senator Will
liam H. Bright, in natty white at
tire, formed at city hall, marched north
on Pacific avenue to Oak avenue, coun-
terma1ched to the Washington Build
ing on the boardwalk, where it was
joined by pupils of the islands schools,
each bearing a small flag, wearing q
red, white and blue striped cap and
Immediately clothed. The process
sion moved north on the boardwalk
to the Ocean Pier and here went TO the
| beach.
Upon large platform at the foot Of
Maple avenue exercises took place pre-
liminary to the launching of the
"Mystic." Mayor Hendee and Commits
sioner Bright spoke briefly and j. Filth
ian Tatem made short but eloquent
address. Patriotism, he said, was the
keystone of our country and it is i'm
portant that we should remember those
that have given their lives with unself-
ish devotion to their country. The
trouble, he continued, with the coun-
try today is that we are thin king of
nothing but getting" while there
should be more concern over what we
can give. On behalf of the city of
Wildwood he presented the large silk
flag of the legion, the state coat of arms
and the flag of the Union to Byron Pen
nington Croker Post, No. 1874, Amerl-
can Legion, mentioning in his remarks
the fact that the young man for whom
the post was named made the supreme
sacrifice on a battlefield in France.
The flags were accepted by Lieutenant
TIovd Harris in brief speech.
Then followed an elaborate Colonial
dance by graceful girls from the high
school. Those taking feminine roles
were fetchingly costumed with white
wigs, silk gowns of flowered design and
white hose. Those acting as male part
ners wore gay silken coats of pink and
yellow and black bloomers. Their
dance, which gained well-merited ap-
pIause, was followed by a dance of girl
pupils of the public schools fifth and
sixth grades. These little girls, In
pretty white dresses and with garlands
of roses in their hands, gave the "dance
of the rosesn to the music of the popu-
lar song, peggy" rendered by Lam-
biase's Band. Their grace aud beauty
com pletely captivated the spectators.
Then followed the memorial exercises,
participated in by Capt. Matthew Ryan
and Rev. Norman V. Sargent.
After a selection by the band came
the solemn rite of casting upon the
waters the floral ship Mystic" IN re-
membrance of those departed heroic
souls who responded to their country's
call, making many sacrifices, even TO
giving up life itself, that their nations
cause might be triumphant.
The impressiveness of the event was
heightened by the action OF several
dsinty little girls in strewing daisies
over the feru-covered deck of the little
ship. n
The thanks of Wildwood are due all
ubo aided in the making and carrying
ont of the days program, particularly
w Courtright Smith and j. Albert