The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY
TO BREAK ALL
RECORDS HERE
Services This Afternoon Larg-
est in City's History.
Mammoth Parade of Veterans
of Americas Wars.
CAST FLOWERS UPON THE KAW
Garry Message of Homage to
Memory of Sailor Dead.
Naval Parade Marches to Tune
of Fife and Drums.
GRAVES A MASS OF FLOWERS
Crowds ThrOnged to Topeka
Cemeteries on Sunday.
Program at Auditorium viii
Follow Big Parade.
Garry Message of Homage to
Memory of Sailor Dead.
Naval Parade Marches to Tune
of Fife and Drums.
GRAVES A MASS OF FLOWERS
Crowds ThrOnged to Topeka
Cemeteries on Sunday.
Program at Auditorium Will
Follow Big Parade.

The grand Memorial Day parade
was to move from Sixth and Kansas
avenues at 1:45 O'Clock this afternoon.
The line of march was to be from Sixth
street south on Kansas avenue to
Tenth street, thence east to Quincy.
thence north to the city auditorium,
where exercises were to be held. be-
ginning at $3.50 O'Clock.
The parade was to be in five divi-
sions, consisting of lodges and frater-
nal orders, civic clubs, fire and police
companies, labor unions, ex-service
men, Industrial school cadets, veterans
of the Civil and Spanish wars and
their ladies' auxiliaries.
Largest Ever Held Here.
The Memorial services today prom
ised to be the largest ever held in the
CITY. Hundreds Of flags were displayed
at half mast in honor of those who
laid down their lives that the Union
might endure. Flowers picked by the
school children were gathered up from
he school houses at $3.50 o'clock this
morning. Decorating squads left Lin
coin Post hall at 10 o'clock to decor
ate the graves of the war veterans in
the local cemeteries.
Respects to Naval Heroes.
Thousands of flowers cast upon the
waters OF the Kaw river this morning
carried their message of love, respect
and honor to the memory of the sail-
ors whose graves cannot be decorated.
The naval parade was formed at 10
O'Clock this morning at Sixth and
Kansas avenues in charge of Chief
Gunners Mate Lynn Easton, recruit
ing officer. Headed by the Old Abe
Camp Fife and Drum corps, followed
by the first platoon of Co. H, K. N.
c., in charge Of Lieut. o. NJ. Alligre.
-. -
Relief Corps and other organizations,
the parade marched down Kansas
avenue to the middle of Melan bridge.
Because there is no ritual for me-
mortal ceremonies for sailors, Fl.
Martin. commander, a member of the
service used this morning Jess
Langston acted as senior vice COM
mander, and Leroy Tucker, repre-
senting The American Legion. as Of
ficer Of the day.
Negro Laborer Leads Singing.
While Tucker read a part of the
service dozens of girls and women at
the east side of the bridge sprinkled
the waters of the river with flowers.
The firing squade was drawn up back
of them. and as they cleared the space
in front, at the order Salute the
Dead" the officer in charge gave the
words of command and the crack of
tho responding rifles resounded in the
river valley.
Moved by an Irresistible impulse.
while ladies OF the Woman's Relief
Corp were singing Nearer My God to
Thee" the deep bass voice of a negro
laborer standing on the sidewalk
Joined in with the singing women. AS
II spurred by his action, the throng
OF hundreds of persons, large and
small. old and young. black and white,
joined in on the old. old hymn.
The gathering on the bridge was so
large that police officers found it nee
essary to stop traffic while the serv-
ices were being conducted.
Taking advantage of the beautiful
weather and the possibility of rain
on the morrow, thousands of persons
visited the cemeteries Sunday and the
graves this morning were a mass of
beautiful flowers. Street cars and
automobiles we're crowded Sunday aft
ernoon with Topekans on their way to
decorate the graves of departed rela-
tives.
Officers of Lincoln Post. C. A. r..
were in charge of ritualistic sc rvices
at the graves this morning. while fir
ing squads in charge of Capt. John
Ashworth we're furnished by Company
H, K. N. G.
b, Clear Avenue of Traffic.
The five divisions of the grand pa
rade this afternoon were to be in
charge of Capt Arthur Mills. with
Lieut.. Paul T. Mcfarland and John H
Bergen as aides. Marshalrs military
band was to head the procession. fol-
lowed by platoon of police and the
eX-service men of the city, making up
the first division. Kansas avenue was
to be cleared of vehicles from Fifth to
Tenth streets at l o'clock.
The first division of the parade was
to form between Kansas avenue and
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