The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-07-21
MILITARY HONORS
ATTEND FUNERAL
OF LAKELAND BOY
William E. Fearrand, Who Fell at
Chateau Thierry, Buried
In Lakeland

/ The funeral of William Eugene
. Fearrand. the first of Lakeland 5
World War heroes to be returned here
for burial. was probably the largest
ever held in Lakeland
In response to request from the
American Legion every business
house in the city was closed from 4
to 5 p. m. the hour of the funeral. and
many flags and service flags were dis
played in honor Of the dead soldier.
The Fearrand home at GOA North
Kentucky Avenue, was filled to over
flowing with sympathetic friends and
the crowd filled the yard and extend
ed over the sidewalk to the street
The profusion of floral offerings
made a bower of the room where the
fiag-draped casket stood.
DR.. w. j. Bolin and DR. w X. Piner
OBLIGATED, DR. Piner making the fun
eral address, in which he deplored
the terrible circumstances that had
taken this precious life, dwelt on the
fact that only the finest of Americas
manhood could pass the tests for en-
tering the service, and added words
of comfort and hope to the members
of the bereaved family
The Perry Male Quartette rendered
several beautiful numbers and DR.
Bolin read the scriptural selection.
The American Legion band headed
the long cortege and the slow jourGey
to the cemetery was accompanied by
the solemn strains of the military
funeral march.
The pall-bearers We're in military
uniform, being all former members of
Co. d.. 124th Infantry. which was the
dead soldiers home company They
We're Oswald Bryant, William Hard
aker, Ossian Drane, Fred Sutton,
Arthur Miller and Wade H. Jackson.
Interment was made in the Lake
land cemetery.
At the grave the Woodmen of the
World, of which the deceased was a
member, carried out their impressive
burial ritual.
AS a last honor, the sweet notes OF
Taps-the bugle call which in military
life, in camp or at the grave of a com
rade. means Goodnight--were blown
across the grave by II. II. Logan and
were echoed from a far-off glade by
John Wilson.
William E. Fearrand was twenty
two years old at the time of his death.
which occurred July 30, 1918. He was
a member of Co. d., with which
he was sent to Camp Kheeler
He was sent from there to France in
replacement troop, and lost his life
on Mercury Farm in the hot fire Of
the Chateau Thierry drive. Velpo
Stewart of Polk County was killed
and seven or eight former Company d
boys were also wounded III the same
great conflict. Oswald Bryant is
probably the last friend who saw
Willie Fearrand before his death, and
had Just remarked to him:
"Some of us are going to get killed
here"
In his home life, Willie Fearrand
was kind and loving. and in his mill
tary career, he was always depend
able and brave, keeping courageous
ly at his duty until he fell among the
thousands of American soldiers who
gave up their lives at Chateau Their
ry for the cause of justice and civil
cation, and the affection and pride of
countless friends attended him to his
last resting place.
He is survived by his parents Mr..
and Mrs. S. w. Fearrand, by his
brother Edgar. who was also in ser
vice, his sister, Miss Fannie Fearrand
and his brother Harry Fearrand.