Evening star., 1924-08-12
G. A. R. VETERANS
:" ON MARCH. TODAY
-T
Union Survivors Of Civil War,
Numbers Greatly Depleted,
in Annual Parade.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BOSTON August 12.-The Grand
Army Of the Republic marched again
today. Survivors of the 10000 who
turned out at Lincoin's call 60-odd years
ago made a show Of strength In a
drizzle of rain that was inspiring.
Commander in Chief Gaylord NJ.
Saltzgaber headed an army that had
in it the grave and the gay. the
sturdy -limbed and the infirm veterans
of the Civil War
.Gay Old Beya- on holiday.
. Cay old boys making holiday, purs-
ing their lirs to fife or rapping away
at O. drum; sober-faced veterans who
regarded the annual reunion as a
sacred rite Their ranks were fewer
than year ago, but those who
marched kept up the cadence at 80
steps to the minute. Those who rode
because of inflrmities were more nu-
merous than before.
They were prompt in getting under
way, and were off on the short line
Of march-a little more than mile
with rain falling as they went. The
Department of Illinois. headed by
Comdr Philip Smith. had the honor
place among the departments as the
first to be formed. and passed In re-
view by Maj. Gen. Pershing and state
and city officials.
Then came the Departments of WIS.,
consin and Pennsylvania. the latter
making a brave showing with nearly
200 veterans in line. some with the
Mcclellan caps Of war time: q Few
with the ragged coats of their cam
paigns. The fife and drum corps OF
the Iowa Department enlivened the
march with old tunes.
Ohio. New York and Connecticut
with some of the old boys carrying
umbrellas. were followed by New Jer-
sey and Maine.
Renewal of Old-Time Ardor.
At the reviewing stand the officials
were amused to see some of the old
boys cutting up jigS to show, that
they were still able to step out. The
rain meantime was mixed with
streamers and confetti. Few rode in
automobiles. but there were some who
came to this encampment who could
make the parade only in that way.
In all 1t was estimated that about
1000 marched. The later G. A. r.
reunions probably reached their crest
in this city in 1890. when 40,500 were
in line. Today the average age of the
veterans is 81 years and their show
ing was considered remarkable.
Massachusetts veterans at the rear
Vi
men, included one who marched on
crutches. hobbling over the entire
route.
The rain increased as the march
wore on, but the veterans held their
places in line. Bands blared out with
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Are
Marching" and the old soldiers re-
turned the cheers OF the crowds with
a wave of the canes that were help
ing them.
Young Women Escort Maryland.
The Department of Maryland came
along with an escort Of young women
who discharged a miniature gun.
Kansas presented front of giant
sunfiowers. Aged wives accompanied
some of the veterans and wives and
sons assisted others.
South Dakota kept up the represen.
tation of state departments. but with
only five men. Delaware. Missouri,
Oregon--comrades of negro blood
marching arm in arm with those of
white-kept step to the fife and drum
corps that was sounding out while
We Go Marching Through Georgia"
Kentucky, West Virginia, Washing
ton and Alaska preceded the Southern
group of States.
These included Arkansas, New
Mexico, Tennessee, Louisiana. Missis-
sippi, Florida, Texas. Georgia and
South Carolina. Their numbers were
small, but the spirit strong. One old
veteran with an empty sleeve was the
liveliest Of the lot
A group of veterans from California
and Nevada, here to press the candi-
dacy for national commander of their
department commander, E. L. Hawks,
passed the word along. Rhode
Island. New Hampshire and Vermont
formed New England division that
preceded the Department of the Po-
tomac.