Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-08-19
Past Triumphs Set
Precedent for Giant
Victory Celebration

for q national Victory Day celebra-
ton honoring the men who won
the war In Europe and in the Pacific,
even though 1t may be many months
before such an event can be held.
1t was soon after the close Of the
Civil War that the Federal Gov
eminent paid stirring tribute to its
defenders May 1924, 1865. But
those troops were close at hand and
could be brought to the Capital
easily. 1t was 10 months after the
Armistice ended the World War
before a grand review In Washington
could take place. The troops who
won this war are scattered around
the world. and 1t may be long
time before they can be gathered
at home for parades anc ceremon-
les commensurate with their ex-
PLOTS.
Now that America has vanquished
two deadlier foes In a still greater
war, official Washington already is
beginning to talk about a third
tremendous victory celebration
within a century.
Planned on National Scale.
But this one, to be a Victory Day
on national scale, centering ap-
propriately in the Capital but
spreading to every community In
the country, promises to be the most
memorable of all. For this war was
on a more colossal scale than our
past armies could have imagined,
and the celebration Of its trium-
plant close should be proportion
ately magnificent
1t was little more than a month
after the martyred Lincoln had been
laid in his tomb In Illinois that the
armies Of Grant and Sherman
gathered on the banks of the
Potomac to march past the review
ing stands for two days-200, 600
hardened veterans OF many a cam
paign.
The Evening Star of May %, 1865
reported a great influx Of visitors
on every train and steamer. on
horses and afoot, adding: Thou
sands were turned away from the
hotels, and hundreds spent the
night in the open air and at sunrise
this morning occupied points along
the Avenue"
The first day. the Army Of the
Potomac marched, led by Gen
George G. Meade, victor of Gettys-
burg. The second day brought the
Army Of the Tennessee, fresh from
its triumphs, commanded by Gen
William T. Sherman. In a review.
ing stand opposite the White House
were President johnson and Gen
Grant, surrounded, The Star re.
ported, "by the wisdom, beauty anc
fashion of the Nation"
The Grand Armies left to be de.
modified. their ranks to return
to civil life.
Pershing Led Parade.
1t was 10 months after the close
OF the World War that Gen Perish.
ing led the victory parade aloni
Pennsylvania avenue. His veteran
LIST Division and other troops. num-
bering $4,000 battle-wise veterans
marched on September II, 1919.
The commander in-chief of the
AEF did not return to this country
until few days before the victory
parade. He had remained in France
and Germany all that time liquidat-
ing the aftermath of the war, or
ganizing the Army of Occupation
counselling the peace negotiators
on military matters. ,,
Congress set aside the event by
Official proclamation. A joint reso-
luton thanked Gen. Pershing in
the name Of the Nation for his VIC
tory. The resolution was presented
to him at joint session Of Senate
and House September Is. Another
congressional resolution set aside
the day Of the parade as holiday
In the District.
The famed LIST Division marched
from the Capitol along stored
Pennsylvania avenue, under VIC
tory arch erected at Fifteenth
street. to the White House and the
reviewing stands-the route the
men who fought under Grant and
Sherman had taken, the same path
some Of the conquerors OF Anzio
Normandy, the Bulge, Two Jima and
Okinawa one day will take. At the
head of the Pershing column was
an escort consisting OF a composite
regiment formed from infantry
brigades Of six divisions.
Wilson Away on Tour.
Vice President Marshall reviewed
the troops in the absence of Presi-
dent Wilson, who was on a speaking
tour for the League of Nations. The
President sent message from Ore
gon acclaiming the event and ex-
pressing regret that he could not
present Gen. Pershing to Congress.
The accounts of the victory pa
rade, which symbolized here what
the whole country felt, described an
air escort Of nine DeHaviland planes
equipped with Liberty motors and
five fast Bristol scout planes. This
time, no doubt, the skies will be
black with bombers and fighters.
Grants men could have found such
contraptions of the future only in
Jules Verne. and the fancy OF an
atomic bomb would have been like
story OF trip to the moon.
The LIST Division marched away
from Washington and went to Camp
(now Fortl Meade to be discharged.
Some Of those who marched in the
victory parade are still around
Washington. Gen. Pershing lives in
seclusion in his suite at Walter Reed
Hospital.
Senators and Representatives who
had an important role in the war,
committees concerned with the
armed forces, already are looking
forward to new national Victory
Day, though the date may be some
time away.
Texas Marines |
Told Their State
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