The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-10-07
AMERICAN LEGION
HAS 10000 MEN IN
CONVENTION PARADE
March Through Streets Where
Cannon Of Revolutionary
War Once Reared

~SOSSAb wv
sand marching men, who trod the
muddy roads Of war q dozen years
ago. marched in gay parade today
through streets where once the can
nor Of another war roared.
Perhaps to the "boys" Of the Amer
lean Legion, as they swung along to-
day, there was little thought for the
boys of '76. But, about them, through
the streets of Boston, there was much
to remind them Of the men who
fired the first shots for the liberty for
which they fought nearly a century
and a half later.
Past old Boston common, which
echoed to the impassioned cries Of
revolutionary orators, over Beacon
Hill and down the hill beside the
weather stained walls Of Kings
chapel, where the soldiers Of Great
Britain worshiped; they marched to-
day. surrounded by the ghosts Of the
past. /,
They swung beneath q victory arcf,
that turned their faces toward Fan;
euA Hail. cradle Of liberty: ana
trods the spot where British rites
cracked in the Boston massacre"
The rampant unicorns Of the old
state house, from whose balcony the
declaration Of Independence was
read to the populace. gased down up
on them - they passed.
In unbroken array, eight abreast,
the men of the Legion marched In
what their officers said was the
greatest parade of World war veter-
ans-a greater array than gathered IN
one marching unit ven during war
time days. From 10 O'Clock. when
the first units got under way, there
was no let up through the day and
darkness vas expected to fall as the
last rank reached the end.
From Alaska To Panama
They were there from Alaska to
Panama, from Maine to the Philip
pines, a scattering few from the more
distant points, q regiment or more
from nearby states. At Q o'clock they
began to form and the first to start
had reached the end Of the five mile
route, before many Of the delegations
had gathered at their starting points.
At their head, as grand marshal,
was Paul v. McNutt Of Indiana, past
national commander: Major General
Clarence r. Edwards Of Massachu-
sets. wartime commander OF the
Goth Yankee" division from New
England. honorary grand marshal:
and william II. Griffin Of MaSsachu-
sets, past department commander, as
chief Of staff, and their aides. Be-
hind them, first Of nearly 400 bands
and bugle and drum corps, marched
the champion legion band Of electric
post 228 Of Milwaukee, Wis.
Through Beacon street they climbed
beneath festooned arches up the
slope Of Beacon. hill and past the
state house. where the first Of four
reviewing stands stood. Here were
gathered state officers. At the city
hall was another reviewing stand for
city officials.
But 1t was the third stand on Ire
mont street that brought q quickened
step and the snappy "eyes right Of
every veteran. For here stood the
man who led them In France, Gen.
eral Pershing.
In the stand with him were Nation
al Commander O. L. Bodenhamer,
General Henri 0ouraud, bearded and
crippled French leader, Major 0ener-
al Sir william Eickie OF England,
Secretary Of War Patrick Hurley and
Secretary of the Navy Charles Francis
Adams and . group Of other distin-
guished guests.
As for the Legionnaires themselves
though their step was brisk and
their heads erect. the mark Of pass.
ing years was evident In graylng hair
and bulgine waistcoats.
AZ they passed the fremont street
reviewing stand. they were greeted
by salutes from Commander Boden-
halner and General perShing.