Smyrna times., 1931-06-03
SMYRNA JOINS LEGION POST
IN TRIBUTE TO SOLDIER DEAD
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATED
IN SMYRNA WITH PARADE
"A Clear Day, Hot and Summary,
Gave Impetus to Ceremony With
Large Trend to Cemeteries

Q
! a Large Trend to Cemeteries
/ Memorial Day, Saturday, was a
day full of interest in Smyrna and
coming next to Sunday, gave in a
sense, a double holiday for visitors
who motored here in considerable
numbers for the weekend. The
day seemed a holiday for every
body except the merchants who
were loathe to lose their Saturday
trade and kept open until eleven
o'clock Saturday night Most of
them however, closed from nine
until twelve during the hours the
Legion Post held their memorial
services. The day dawned clear
and warm and early in the morn
ing there was a trend to the GEM
eteries to decorate graves. A
number of citizens took their flor
al tributes out the evening before
to avoid the hot sun which handed
out a sample of heat and power
equal to a July or August day.
The thermometer hovered near the
nineties most all day. The Legion
Post parade began shortly after
nine. Ralph G. FAIRIES was marshal
of the parade which was headed by
the Colors, Sylvesters Concert
Band of Smyrna, the Legion Firing
Squad, those Of the Civil War Vet
Grams able to attend, the Spanish
War Veterans, the Legionnaires of
David @. Harrison Post, No. IA, the
ladies organization known as the
Legion Auxiliary; Stars and
Stripes Council, Jr., o. u. A. M;
Daughters of America; Smyrna
Boy Scouts, Smyrna Business
Mems Association, Smyrna Rotary,
Citizens Hose Company of Smyrna
and School Children. The route of
parade was from Legion Post room
to Frazier street, to Smyrna High
School, to Delaware Street, to
Commerce Street to Main Street
and to Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Ceremonies at Odd Fellows
AT Odd Fellows Cemetery E. p.
Vogel Of Blackbird, Past Com
mander of the Smyrna Legion Post
was master of ceremonies. The
Band played several selections and
w. 0. Hoffecker lead the crowd in
singing Star Spangled Banner"
Isadore Handloff recited Lincoln's
Gettysburg Address. Rev. w. J.
Bone, pastor of the Presbyterian
Church of Smyrna, lead in prayer
after which w. H. Kenworthey,
commander of David @. Harrison
Post, read the Preamble" The
address of the occasion was given
by James r. Morford, Esq, of Will
mington, well-knoWn attorney Of
that city. Without notes he gave
splendid oration in harmony
with the day in which he drew at
tention to the supreme sacrifice
made in all wars and hailed the
day when war would never become
necessary. In the meantime he
made strong plea for national de-
fense and gave statistics to show
our country's unpreparedness.
School Children Make Floral Cross
w. o. Hoffecker lead the gather
ing in singing America" At this
point in the program there was a
beautiful Floral Tribute" made by
the pupils of the first and second
grades of the Smyrna Schools. A
large cross was decorated with
bouquets from the little folks who
placed their flowers in the cross
until it was a complete floral
cross. Following this Miss Mil
dred Ryan of Smyrna Schools, re-
cited "In Flanders Field" The
Legionnaires then took up the pro-
gram, the Firing Squad giving
their salute to the dead-North,
East, West and South. With the
bugle sound of taps" and the
"echo," the ceremonies ended.