Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-13

down the street. Boys, some OF them
great grand children Of the veterans
carried many of the post banners.
Ohio was there and the throngs
cheered the state of presidents and
generals as they saw the old muskets
borne jauntily on aged shoulders.
Many of the marchers carried canes,
but they used them as little as pos
sible. Tramp. Tramp. Tramp, the
Boys are Marching" came the
strains from another band.
Then a touch of youth as a fife
and drum corps of~~hite-clad girls
went by. The veterans laughed at
the rain and some of them took off
their old campaign hats to tip the
water out of the brims.
Onward, Christian Soldiers"
rang out on the air as New York
came along, headed by perhaps the
tallest veteran in the parade, erect,
straight shouldered and dignf1ed.
Not until these had passed and the
next band had tuned into Marching
Through Georgia" was the first au-
tomobile seen, and it was long
while before a second came.
Connecticut, with a boy scouts
band. and Maine called more ap-
plause from the spectators. Then
California, with the Pasadena fife
and drum corps of Ave of the most
lively veterans in line. This little
band had toured the city yesterday.
serenading the newspaper Offices,
and today was as jaunty as even, Its
drummer ruffiing away with skill
that few younger men could rival.
A sturdy bass drummer who
swung with remarkable precision at
tracted attention to Michigan. Iowa
had its drum corps of women. Four
nurses in white marched in front of
Indiana. AS Colorado and Wyoming
came along together the crowd
shouted its delight at the sight of a
white haired woman arm-in arm
with one of the veterans and little
young girl walking beside another
of the aged men.
Rally Round the Flag" and
New Hampshire and Vermont came
marching on. the Green Mountain
men with sprigs of green in their
hats.
No one was prepared for the sur
prise that followed. 1t was Mary
land that aroused the enthusiasm Of
the onlookers to the highest pitch
as it's rear guard was disclosed. Four
girls drew through the streets
brightly polished little brass cannon.
A fifth girl younger than the rest,
ran alongside. A veteran rammed
the powder home. Suddenly there
was discharge, and its echoes were
drowned in cheers.
So they passed. state after state.
There were three veterans from
n Ell cd
umbrella. New Mexico had one
solitary figure in line and he re-
ceived applause enough for a thous-
and.
A sailors band played 1.-THE Stars
and Stripes Forever" and the naval
veterans marched sturdily. with
banner at their head hearing Farra-
CUTS famous words Damn the tor
pedoes and go ahead"
Drums were muffled now for protec-
ton against the rain but the bands
played on. Streamers of tape and
myriad bits of paper fioated down
from office windows over TIE march,
ers
Thus the few thousand veterans
who had insisted on going afoot in
spite of Boston's encampment motto,
They shall not walk" passed and an
ambulance followed by grey
uniformed negro band hailed the be-
ginning Of the long line of automo-
biles.
1t seemed as II every car In Boston
and its suburbs had been pressed into
Service to carry the men too infirm
to walk. First in single column. then
double, the automobiles. each with its
fiags waving rolled along. Most of
them were Of the closed type, but in
a few open ones the veterans held
umbrellas. The second car in line
was or = and woman drove it--one
who had seen ambulance service in
the World War. She was alone, but
on the alert to pick up any wander
ing veteran who might be in need Of
ride
At last the final car had passed the
white tent erected in Adams Square,
named for a patriot of the Revolu-
ton. Traffic barriers were removed
and the rumble of the city went on.
Men and women who had been held
speilbound for two hours turned back
to their work.
The city folk had seen hundreds Of
parades. Of which scores had sur
passed today's procession In uri,bers
and brilliance. They had seen the
Grand Army itself in other years
when its ranks were imposing. But
AZ tey turned away today they felt
that thew would not look upon the
massed veterans Of 81 again in Bos-
ton and they were unashaned Of |
their tears.