White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-06-01
MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM
PLEASES LARGE CROWD

An almost, perfect day, cool and
with only slight breeze blowing,
was provided for the Memorial Day
exercises sponsored by John Lin6blad
Post of the American Legion in
White Bluffs Wednesday. A large
crowd attended the exercises, cars
being closely parked on either side of
the street for nearly two blocks.
An irnprovised, platform was erected
in front of the First Bank and on it
were seated, beside the Commander
and speaker of the day, Civil War
veterans, James Wade, D. S. Baker
and w. c. Neecham as well as Mrs
Matte McGlothlen, mother of Dallas
McGothlen for whom the first Post
in the Priest Rapids valley was
named.
Upon the unanimous invitation of
the members of John Lindblad Post,
Major Fred M. We'll was made Com
mander Of the Day and he carried out
the program with characteristic
promptness and dignity, reflecting
credit both to, himself and to the
Post.
After several selections by the
White Bluffs band, Rev. T. ]. Gray
delivered the invocation, after which
the ban6 played America"
In introducing the speaker of the
day, George O. Beardsley, prosecut-
ing attorney Of Benton county, Major
We'll said:
Comrades and Fellow Citizens,
we are gathered here today to honor
those who have given their lives in
the defense of our country, for which
reaaon Memorial Day is acclaimed the
most solemn day of our year. 1t is a
day when our interests should lie in
the past,-whe1l strife and personal
differences have no place in our
hearts and when all should meet and
serve in the privileged cause of
honoring our soldier-dead.
This valley has ever been true to
this trust; and year after year finds
US making our annual pilgrimage to
the little cemetery on the hill,-there
to stanc with bowed heads in CRATE
full remembrance as the soulful notes
of taps are sounded and the thunder
Gus volleys roll forth in salute to the
dead.
"Cn these Memorial Days we have
had with us as our speakers, many of
the states most gifted orators, Col.
Edwin K. Brown, Chaplain Dean
Hicks and Ray Greenwood. Today we
again are honored in that we have as
cur speaker, not only a veteran of
prominence, but citizen of attain
ment of our own county as well.
During the World War the COM
rade to whom I refer was member
Of the Coast Artillery and at this
time he is Captain of Company G,
161st Infantry, Washington National
Guard.
Comrades and friends: on behalf
of john Linahlad POST sof the. Atneri-
can Legion and the veterans here
assembled, it. is my pleasure at this
time to present to you as our Speaker
on this Memorial Day, Capt. George
O. Beardsley of Prosser."
Captain Beardsley chose as his
subject, "The Price of Liberty" and
in an eloquent and interesting address
traced through history the struggles
Of humanity, since the time of Christ
down to the present day. against
tyranny and slavery and for liberty
ard freedom. The speech indicated
considerable study and research work
on the part of Captain Beardsley and
the Spokesman regrets that it is I'M
able to publish it in full.
Following the address the band
played "The Star Spangled Banner .
after which the benediction was pro-
nounceoj by Rev. Gray.
In the march to the cemetery the
procession was led by the Comman-
der of the Day and the Speaker,
followed in order by the White Bluffs
Band, the World War Veterans,
about 80 of them, commanded by 1t.
]. E. Leander, the Boy Scouts, the
Civil War veterans and Mrs. Nc
Glothlen and the ladies of the
Auxiliary. 1t. Leander's command
comprised the firing squad, the color
guard and other veterans.
The ceremonies at the cemetery
were brief but military, taps being
sounded and salute for this valleys
roll of honor, who are: Edwin w.
Craig, Charles c. Rickar6S Thomas
M. Snyder, Warren Roach and Shir-
Ian H. Hitchcock, civil war veterans,
and Harry Edward Ennis, John Lind
bad, Julius c. Svffcrd, Henry F.
Kirby and Albert Moede, veterans of
the World War.