LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
June 1, 1920

PAY USUAL HONORS
SHOW OF RAIN INTERFERRED WITH THE PARADE
BOY AND GIRL SCOUTS IN LINE
Civil War, Spanish-American War Veterans and World War Soldiers Were Well Represented—Principal Address by Past Commander Mills.

The usual Decoration Day rain interfered with the parade yesterday, but fortunately the rain stopped long enough to permit the carrying out of the exercises at the cemetery as planned.  The parade moved from the city building promptly at 10 o’clock, the order of march as follows:
Colors.
LeMars Military Band.
Mayor, speaker and post commander.
Mower Post, G. A. R.
Woman’s Relief Corps.
World War Veterans.
LeMars city officials.
LeMars fire department.
Boy Scouts of America.
Girl Scouts.
Citizens.

The color guard was composed of a Spanish-American war veteran and a soldier, marine, and sailor of the World War, Andrew Crouch, a Civil War veteran, being the color bearer.

There were twelve Civil War veterans in line, and something over 100 World War veterans in uniform.  The latter carried at the head of their line a large floral wreath, which was a memorial to their comrades who had died overseas.

The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts had each about seventy-five in line.

A drizzling rain interfered with the parade and induced many who had gone to the cemetery to return home, but before 11 o’clock the lowering clouds scattered somewhat and a large crowd participated in the exercises at the cemetery.

Clarence D. Roseberry was chairman and introduced the speakers.  Rev. Walter Torbet made the opening prayer, and after a selection by the band, Irvin Groth read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and Ed Haas the order for the first Decoration day, issued by John A. Logan in 1869.  After the G. A. R., with W. R. C. ritualistic services, Hon. J. H. Mills, past department commander of the Grand Army of Iowa, delivered the annual address.

After these exercises, the graves of 125 soldiers dead in the city cemetery were decorated, and the column moved to the Catholic cemetery, where the graves of soldiers buried there were decorated. 

As usual, the graves of all persons buried in the cemetery who have relatives or friends here were strewn with flowers, and Decoration day was observed by the entire community.  Flags were flying over most of the residences and business houses throughout the day

 

~Submitted for posting by volunteer, Linda Ziemann