The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-22

Its organization in the summer OF 1919
by Frank T. Strayer, appeared in the
souvenir history of the Sixth District
American Legion posts. The booklet
was distributed at the Sixth district
convention held at Greenfield Thurs
day.
DR.. George B. Hunt, past COM
mander and G. r. Umpleby, adjutant
OF the local post, co-operated IN get
ting the history together
All the work done by the post is
thoroughly covered in the article,
which follows in part:
Harry Ray Post No. SIS was or
ganized during the summer of 1919
by Frank T. Strayer, who was COM
mander for that year. Temporary
charter received Sept. Is, 1919, with
! 80 charter members. Permanent
charter granted Aug. 1, 1920. Paul A.
Beckett, adjutant and Winfield Urban,
treasurer, for 1919.
Immediately after organization the
need of money was very apparent. Var
ious plans were discussed and it was
| finally decided to sponsor and stage an
| indoor fair. Merchants business
houses and individuals were solicited
! for donations and subscriptions and
| responded very literally. The affair
was held in the Coliseum and played
TO capacity houses for seven nights.
After the smoke and debris was clear
ed away we chalked up S13,500 on the
| credit side. This, of course, put US
| on our feet financially and we are
! still going strong.
Well Furnished Rooms
! We do not own our home but have
been told by persons that have visited
posts in various parts of the state that
we have the best furnished club rooms
I, Of any post in the state. Plans are be-
ing discussed for the purchase of n
home which may materialiZe in the
near future.
Officers for 1920 were as follows:
DR.. George B. Hunt commander; R. B
| Mather, vice-commander; DR.. e. R.
| Churchell, treasurer; c. r. Umpleby,
| adjutant; Frank T. Gatzek, sergeant
| alarms.
In May, 1920, under the leadership
OF Commander Hunt, band of %
pieces was organized, it being one of
| the first in the country. 1t is now one
of the finest organizations of its kind
There is more than $500 worth of good
music in its library The uniforms are
the property of the band and they are
free of membranes. j Don McDan.
lei, formerly of the Original Kilties
band, is the present director; B. B
Russell, secretary.
On Labor day, 1920, the band had
/, full opportunity to display it's talent
the post giving a barbecue at Glen
Miller park. 1t was the biggest affair
Of its kind ever given in this eommun
ity, over one ton Of barbecued meat
being disposed of.
Big Armistice Celebration
Armistice day. 1920, will ever be re
membered in and about Richmond
The celebration was originated by
this post and participated in by prac.
tically all organizations, business
firms and factories in the city. Over
$4,000 was contributed for decorations
and other necessary expenses. The
streets were decorated through the
business district. The different bands
gave concerts all morning and in the
afternoon a parade, the like of which
was never before seen in Richmond
Sixteen bands were in the line. AL
the service men in uniform. Floats
from all the business houses, factories
) other features, too numerous to men
ton. A football game between In
dianapolis legion and our boys was
played after the parade was over, oul
: boys winning, Z to 0. In Tenth stree
{ park a museum of war relics was oper
| all afternoon, free lunches and ath
letic matches were going on all the
: time. Lunches were served by various
5 organizations over the city in the
; evening. AS soon as it became darl
| fireworks were set off down at MaiT
street bridge. A large free dance fol
all men in uniform in the Coliseum
closed this wonderful celebration
A basketball team was organized
during the fall of 1920, which played
some of the strongest teams in th'
country, including the Detroit Rayli
and Denver Athletic club.
Give Boxes to Sick
At Christmas time many boxes wer,
: prepared and forwarded to all sicl
: and disabled "buddies" in the com
2 munity and nearby hospitals.
:, In January, 1921, officers\ wer,
Y elected and installed as follows r. 3
4 Mather, commander; Wilbur w Fox
!. vice-commander; c. r. Umpleby. ad
e jutant; Harry G. Oliver, treasurer
n Ray Keck. sergeanttat-arms. Late
$ Harry c. Oliver resigned and Benja
y min A Ball was elected and installed
in his place. During the first part o
/ this year our basket ball team con
e tinued to go strong During Februar,
e the Salvation Army requested the lie
t gion to take charge of their drive
/ which the legion did. making a hous
to house canvass. During the summe
/ a carnival was given under the aus
: pices of the post, netting a neat sum
n Caisson and limbre were purchase
/ for use at all military funerals, tn
l. post having had charge of Is, sine
e its organization. National colors an
n post banner were purchased durin
D. the summer. On Sept. 1 free picni
\ for all ex-service men and their fan
II lilies, followed by a dance in the eve
9 ming, was given at Jackson's parl
G which was quite successful. in spite c
= considerable rain during the day. Arm
T istice day this year was not so elabC
7 -ately celebrated as the year before
u pageant at the Coliseum and address
n by Hon r. n Elliott, NJ c., being tn
II browning features of the afternoon
IS The annual military ball was held i
3 the Coliseum in the evening.
), Commander N A. Powell took tn
u reins at the beginning of the yea