The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-07-05
Weather is Perfect, Program
Snappy and Crowd
Biggest Ever
PATRIOTIC PARADE
is BIG FEATURE
People Come Here From
Many Districts in Three
Counties

When the last weary legionaire
sought his home in the early hours
of this morning it was indeed the
end of a perfect day, for perfect
weather, perfect order, big crowd,
and well-planned program, well car
ried out, had combined to make yes
terday's observance of the Nations
birthday one of the biggest and best
Fourth of July celebrations in the his
tory Of Kennewick.
From early morning until late at
night members Of Robert w. Ely post
worked hard to amuse ad entertain
the thousands of celebrants who had
gathered from the nearby farms,
frfom the Hill ranches, from Finley,
Hover, Richland, Benton City, Kiona,
Prosser Haford White Bluffs, Pasco,
Alfalfa, Wallula and other towns and
districts of Benton, Franklin and
Walla Walla counties.
At no time during the day did the
Legion men permit things to drag
or the crowds to grow impatient. On
every hand they We're encouraged by
a splendid show of cooperation of
other organizations and the citizens
generally, and above all they were en-
couraged by the happy mood Of the
celebration crowd. There were no ac-
cidents, no brawls or rowdism TO mar
the success of the day. -.-...
The days program started with a
patriotic parade which eclipsed any
thing of the kind before attempted in
Kennewick. The parade formed at
thee foot Of Washington street where
the Kennewick contingent meet the
Pasco delegation. 1t was led by r. III.
Nicholson, commander of the local post
as mashall of the day. Next march
ed the color bearers with uniformed
escort followed by combined Ken
newick- -Pasco band under the leader
ship Of Clark. Among the floats, the
place of honor was given that of the
American Legion, beautiful crea-
tion which symbolized the principals
of liberty and justice upon which the
nation is founded. This was perhaps
the best float of the day but it was
not considered in competition for the
prize.
The first award was made to the
Kennewick Printing Company on its
float depicting the Spirit of Prosper
ity, with Miss Margaret Baxter in
the role of the "Spirit" directing at
tention to large Cornucopia from
which poured the products of the hill
and valley The float was designed
and decorated by Milton Hooper. Sec
ond prize was awarded the Kenne-
wck Business Girls Club for float
symbolizng the birth Of the Flag
with Miss Ida Smith in the role of the
historic Betsy Ross.
The judges gave honorable men,
tion to the automobiles of Semon &
Kasper and r. E. Reed, especially TO
the former which was without doubt
the most beautifully decorated car
ever seen in Kennewick. Honorable
mention is also given the floats of
the Kennewick Greenhouse, Rodgers
ad the Kennewick Woman's Club and
the people of Pasco for their splendid
representation in the parade. One of
the surprises was the battery of de-
livery cars of the Church Mfg. COM
pany, which were spick and span in
new coats of paint. Few people real
lied that so large an equipment was
required to handle this company's
business in Pasco and Kennewick.
The success of the parade is largely
due to the efforts of the Kennewick
Business Girls Club, members of
which solicited floats and worked tire
lessly to arouse interest in this fea-
ture of the days program.
The patriotic significance of the
holiday was emphasized with an ap-
noon hour. This part of he program
propriate program just before the
was presided over by F. r. Jeffrey,
lIJ S. district attorney and first state
commander of the American Legion.
In a brief address Mayor H. w. Des-
.,yes extended Kennewick's well
J lContinued on page -