The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-03-31
EX-SERvlCE MEN
ENJOYED THEMSELVES
At BIG BANQUET
HOTEL BELDING DINING ROOM
SCENE OF MEMORABLE
EVENT LAST FRIDAY

The evening OF Friday, March rs
will be one which will live long in the
memory of the ex-service men of
Hugo w. Fales Post American Legion
and with Mayor-elect Fred A. WASH
burn also for he never had a better
time in his whole life than he did that
night acting as host to the II fine
young American ex-soldiers, sailors
and marines who had accepted his in
vitation to the banquet.
Following the assembling in the
parlors of the hotel, the n ex-service
men, together with their host, Mr..
Washburn, Mayor Fales, and the edi-
tor of the Banner-News sat down to
as fine a dinner and as splendid ser
vice as Manager Bracken ever put on
in the history of the hotelJ Bert Rum
mler and Hal Burris furnished the
music and the first number on the
program was the old favorite "The
Star Spangled Banner" The room
was simply and beautifully decorated
with a profusion of American flags
the same Old Glory that had led the
men on to the front, over the top and
toward Berlin, while Fred A. Wash
burn, the towns patriot was doing his
every bit to aid here at home. The
room as it was decorated, was in it.
self an inspiring sight.
The dinner was five course affair
and was served by bevy of beauti-
full young ladies who charged time
and time again through the furious
smoke of battle which hung over the
scene of the furious conflict which
the diners were putting up. More
than one instance in the past was re.
called, at which time the Friday night
banquet would have been just the
thing as one soldier put it "You bet
that girl with the tray would have
looked mighty good to me several
times over in the .Argonne."
After the dinner, Com. s. l.. o.
Connor. acting as toastmaster called
on Fred Haynes, who up to that time
had been acting much the same as if
he had been at funeral. Mr.. Haynes
quickly dispelled any such thoughts
however and assured his hearers
that he had lost none of his wit and
made big hit with his "shots" at
various innocent persons present.
p. M. Dykema was the next speak,
er and his theme was the power of
the American Legion for a greater
good and that every ex-service man
should join. F. Sidney Washburn,
of Muskegon, spoke next and he
spoke of the supreme sacrifice made
by Hugo w. Fales, after whom the
local post was named and brought
up a number of personal recollections
of Belongs dead hero. He, like each
one of the other speakers also COM
mented upon the splendid dinner AMI
service.
Mayor Fales spoke next and told
of the appreciation of Mrs. Fales and
himself on being elected to honorary
membership in the post and then as
Mr. Fales always does, he told a
number of good stories and finished
with a patriotic tribute to Old Glory,
by Edgar A. Guest. A patriotic
poem sent over by Mrs. Caroline
Webster was also read.
Com. O'Connor then called on Mr..
Washburn for a talk and Belongs
next mayor gave the boys a good
look into the future. He told them
of how he had appreciated their sac
rifices in the army and of how he had
always been behind them. He also
told them that as members of the
Legion they had a great duty to per-
form. He spoke of the troublous
times, present and future and charg-
ed them that as true Americans they
must keep this free country where
the principals of liberty, freedom and
Justice must always be kept fresh.
He said he always felt (and he thot
all true Americans should feel that
way) as Nathan Hale did when no
said "Mv only regret is that have
but one life to give for my country"
He broufht out several other good
points for the boys to remember and
after giving him three rousing
cheers the banqueters dispersed.