Evening star., 1936-09-23

climb into automobiles which rolled
along with them.
But for the most part the veterans
marched and smiled and waved theil
hands and their hats. And the great
crowds along the curbs and in the
windows cheered and clapped and
handkerchiefs were in many hands.
Two persons, World War veteran
and colored girl, we're Frustrated BY
the heat as they watched the parade
At Emergency Hospital, they were
identified as Ralph Beard, 40, who
gave his address as Mount Alto Hos
pital, and Marjorie Duckett, IA, of
60 P street.
Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania,
Ohio State by State-the boys in
blue went by. With each department
marched an officer of the United
States Army Of today, some of them
with veteran hanging to an elbow
Some Of the officers carried the card
board signs designating the States
from which the veterans had come
And from some of the States there
was but q single veteran; few had
more than a real squad.
As one of the officers. q snappy
young hyst lieutenant from the 18th
Infantry, shouldered the sign from
one of the Western States one of the
two veterans in the contingent started
to protest: But, sir, you are an
off1cer-I-"
Don't you bother" the Lieutenant
said, II am proud to carry it. sir"
And the old soldier squared his
shoulders and smiled.
School Children Present.
Long before the 10 O'Clock signal
gun, which started the parade from
the assembly area on Constitution
avenue, Pennsylvania avenue had
been cleared and thousands of spec
tators were jammed behind the steeel
cables erected along the curbs. The
crowd was swelled by tens of thou
sands Of school children. released for
the day. and by Federal and District
Government workers, given a half
day of in tribute to the Grand Army.
Although the leaders of the parade
moved slowly, they pulled away from
the veterans and there was long gap
by the time the column moved into
Pennsylvania avenue. Following a
police platoon led by Maj. Ernest w.
Brown. Commissioner Melvin c. Ha-
zen. mounted, led the column as grand
marshal. accompanied by staff
which included Col. John w. Och
mann, commanding the District Ma
tional Guard. as chief Of staff.
The United States Army Band,
playing at a cadence of 90 PAGES q
minute-38 slower than the Regular
Army cadence today-led the official
escort, composed Of sons of Union vet
Grams in the uniforms Of the Civil War
and armed with Civil War muskets.
The escort composed regiment which
was of just about the average strength
of the Union regiments during the
latter part of the war. .,..
Old Fighters on Foot.
The veterans were led by their COM
mander In chief, Obey Nelson, of Slater,
Iowa, and the members of his staff in
automobiles. Then came the old fight
ers on foot. led by the Illinois depart.
Ment with lone drummer out front.
II can't 60 very fast" the latter said,
"but ! can still swing a mean pair of
drunsticks and I'll get there"
Lets CO." said Pennsylvania, M
G. Mckay, of the 150th Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, one of the famous
"Bucktails.''
IT came here 70 march," said an
other, lead OF there, drummer"
II was In the grand review in May,
1885," said a Californian. There
wasn't any fussing around then. We
marched all day long that day"