The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-11-16

S usual The anniversary of the
gnlng of the Armis.ice at II o'clock
IS noticed by the blowing Of wais
,es, and flags on public buildings
nd homes were much in evidence.
Simon Peters Post of the American
4egion had its first real celebration
md very properly carried out the
5ame with a banquet at which the
Gold Star fathers and veterans Of the
Civil War sons of Veterans and Vet
Grams of the Spanish War were spec
al guests. The banquet was served
IN Grange Hall and Captain BERTHE /.
2iee of Simon Peters Post and Lyle
s. Moore served as a reception com
nlttee. The ex-soldiers escorted by
The Citizens Band marched from the
Post headquarters to the hall. The
banquet room had been elaborately
decorated for the occasion. Streamers
Of red, white and blue were suspend
ed across the ceiling and the lights
were shaded with these national col
ors. with which the pillars were also
wound. Flags of different nations
with the American flag especially
prominent decorated the walls and
he tables were handsomely trimmed
with centerpieces of pine and red
berries, with tiny silk flags at each
plate. Local young women served
lnder the direction of Miss Mildred A.
3eale, her assistants being the Misses
Margaret NJ Chase, Isabel NJ. Dionne,
Telma S. Viles. Florence Beale, Lula
md Gail Chapman. Margaret and
III ~ drf, Ia
amanda and Juliette Corriyeau, Anne
5aswell, Blanche Jewett, Evelyn VI.
ST. Ledger, Clara Libby and Chantel
Bisson. The menu included tomato
)isque. olives. celery. chicken, mashed
potatoes. squash onions, Parker
House rolls, harlequin ice cream, cake
md coffee. 1t was splendidly serv-
ed under the direction of Mrs. Kate
). Simpson, caterer. Captain Rice
allied the gathering to order, mess
all was sounded and invocation was
,ffered by Army Chaplain, George
4orirg ThurloW. Songs we're sung
It the tables after the banquet and
he Citizens Band played a stirring
election.
Captain Rice introduced Roy L..
tarston of Skowhegan, a Lieutenant
'olonel OF the United States Army
nd a present Colonel On the Cover
or's staff. as the POSTMASTER of the
vening. Col. Marston said:
-Four years ago today at eleven
clock in the morning the most ter
bic war in history came to an end.
zen million of the worlds best men
I'D been sacrificed on the altar of
iberty The inventive ingenuity of
nan exhausted the archives of science
or the most frightful and powerful
means of destruction. The art of
var became the science OF war. The
2hiyalry and glory of other wars gave
way to the chemistry and mechanism
If annihilation. Gone were the dash
ng and picturesque cavalry charges.
mounted generals with flashing
swords flung high leading regiments
md brigades into battle. There
we're no Sheridans in France. There
we're no fair fields such as gallant
'ickett charged across. Man deep
nenches with clay mud and snow
.ater to tie knees miles from the
ompany mess kitchens, these were
he fields Of battle" Men held
hese trenches as many days as hui
nan Endurance could stand the Hell
+ il, and then went to the rear to
est up for another stretch of it.
Poison gas that burned your nose and
Mouth like dranghts of carbolic acid,
'rilled or marked for life with dread
disease its victims; machine guns
'hooting a thousand bullets minute
md moving down all in front of them
ike clover in front of a scythe; gi-
yantic guns sending enormous shells
'orty miles vitb the accuracy OF a
arget rifle, all made up the He'll Of
hose in the trenches.
For more than four years our gal
ant French and British comrades had
lad it and for over year our boys
lad it. 25e.oeo American casualties.
% you wonder that Armistice Day is
l day of sorro"tul memory for fallen
comrades mingled with rlotouS Joy
md celebration
"On the road 10 Belleau Woods,
coming over TIN hill at Cunel, sudden
" ahead of Nan appears tall white
cole in the distance from which floats