Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-11-17
WILDWOOD CELEBRATES ARMS.
TICE DAY WITH PARADE AND
ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES

Under the supervision of Byron
pennington Croker Post of the Ameri-
can Legion, Armistice Day was fit
tingly celebrated on Five Mile Beach.
At 1890 the parade started from the
City Hall and marched to the Station
Park. This parade was headed by the
CITY Commissioners. Following them
came the band with q musicians.
The Legion boys followed the band,
headed by the flags borne by the color
squad. There were 20 Legionaires in
this section, some in the uniforms they
had fought in owe there and others
in "civiies." The Ladies' Auxiliary
we're next represented with ten
marchers. Holly Council, No. SO, of
the Daughters of America, came next
in line with 20 members, and the Boy
Scouts with 10 members followed
them. Then came school children
bearing American flags. The Red
Ladies with 16 members came next
and the hook and ladder truck of the
wildwood Fire Company brought up
the zeal of the procession.
Upon reaching the Station Park the
parade disbanded and the crowds gath
cred around the band stand. The
band now opened the Armistice Day
exercises with the playing of
america" Harry E. Weir, chairman
of the Armistice Day Committee, of
the Legion, acted as chairman of the
day, and introduced Lieut.. Harry G.
Nilsson, of the list Canadian Detach-
ment. Lieutenant Nilsson gave a STIR
ring address in which he fayed the
people of Wildwood for the poor man
ner in which they had observed Armis-
tice Day. He deplored the fact that
less than 10 per cent of the citizens
of the city had turned out for the oc-
casion and scored the lack of fitting
respect to our nations emblem, hav-
ing noticed while marching in the pa
rade many men who failed to uncover
their heads as the flags went by. He
closed his talk by reciting the famous
poem of the late world war, Gin
Flanders Field Where Poppies Grow"
Mayor w. COPYRIGHT Smith was now
introduced by Mr.. Weir and taking
the speakers platform, Mr.. Smith de-
Tended the people of Wildwood from
the remarks made about them by
Lieutenant Nilsson. He said: at is
indeed a serious fault that we do not
give the flag reverent respect at all
times, but it is a fact that can be
seen not alone in Wildwood but
throughout our whole country. I was
born and raised in Philadelphia, the
Cradle of Liberty, and 1 dare say that
half of the people in that city have
never even been to see the Liberty
Bell. 1t is true there are some
people who fail to uncover at the
passing of the colors, but the world
cannot stand still because of a few
particles of dirt on it's axle. Usually
these particles of dirt are the ones
who have not enough patriotism to
give the colors their due honor and
respect" Mayor Smith then repeated
the remarks he had said the night be-
fore at the Legion meeting, when ne
regretted the fact that aside from
the memorial tablet erected by the
Alumni Association in the high school,
Wildwood was without a fitting me-
mortal to the ones that "did their bit
in the war. He expressed the hope that
the athletic field would be dedicated
as such a memorial when completed.
He also referred to the Girl Scouts
Hut having never been completed.
Thanking the Legion for the exer
cises they had arranged, he then an
nounced the time had arrived for the
two minutes of silent prayer observed
throughout the country in memory OF
the ones who gave their all that
Democracy might live. At the close OF
the two minutes of prayer, the Legion
bugler blew "Taps," as as the last
notes of this beautiful call was car
ried away on the breeze the band
softly took up the air of "The Star
Spangled Banner" and this number
closed the morning exercises.
In the afternoon an athletic carnival
was held on oath avenue for the chill
dren at which races of all kinds were
conducted and cash prizes awarded
the winners. This was followed by a
football game, an account OF winch
is found elsewhere in the paper, ana
at night the basketball game OF the
w. A. C. ended the days celebration.
-O-