Show World War I Armistice Day now Veterans Day Nov 11 by Doris Dod Karren Burton June 5 1917 is destined to be remembered as one of the most con con- conspicuous moments in our history It is nothing less than the day on which the manhood of the country shall step for for- forward forward ward in one solid rank in defense of the ideals to which this nation is con con- consecrated consecrated This statement is quoted from the June I 1 1917 Vernal Express June being the one and only day set for registration of all men between the ages of 21 and 30 for World War I It was stated that the stem sacrifice be carried in their hearts as a great day of patriotic devo- devo devotion devotion tion eligible and obligation to see that every eligi- eligi ble males name be placed upon this list of honor Registration day should be celebrated as a consecration of the American people A time for service sacrifice and a public expression by each community of willingness to surrender its sons to the country The registration booths decorated with the national colors and emblems were opened at 7 in the morning Church and fire bells were to ring and whistles blown Bands played patriotic music while friends neighbors and kinfolk march with their young men to register Each man registering was given a badge to wear On June 8 the Vernal Express read Solemnly yet cheerfully the young men laid aside whatever they happened to be engaged in and responded to the nations nation's command to register for service Not the slightest unwillingness was displayed few claimed exemptions Business was suspended In Vernal The doors of even drug stores and confectioners were closed clos- clos closed ed The results of the registration as reported by County Clerk ONell ONeil was This didn't include the sixty six Indians of military age who were not required to come In and register Their cards were filled out by government officials at the agency and forwarded to the county In the July 6 Vernal Express a picture was shown of th the first men from Vernal to volunteer They were William H Workman G Miller Raymond Bates Herbert A Lawrence H Davis Henry B and Roy J Coupe The June 22 Express told how the first boys to leave were given a royal send off All owners of automobiles were to gather in front of Ashton's Hardware store where the Barnes Auto Stage cars were to leave taking the boys to service All the cars were decorated with flags and several hundred citizens gathered Senator Don B Colton made an eloquent address to the boys congratulating them upon their devotion to duty On June 29 the Express read that on Saturday night a large gathering of peo- peo people assembled on main street to bid good good- goodbye goodbye bye to five more local youths The band played patriotic music Again Senator Colton spoke Three rousing cheers were given led by Wm M Anderson of the forest service and a salute was fired by a volunteer squad Badges were pinned on each young man by five young ladies after which farewells were said The boys loaded into Barnes auto and were soon sped on their way The first drafted men left Vernal Sept 6 1917 for training camp at American Lake Wash They went by Barnes Auto Stage Mr Barnes himself driving his big buick to Salt Lake The Women's Century Club gave each boy a handsome comfort kit ma made fe by the ladies of the club This contained every useful article a soldier could wish for It also contained a poem written by one of the members of the club for inspiration The Sept 21 Express stated that 31 more drafted men were to leave on Sept 26 A patriotic program was given for the boys at the Vogue Theatre Tuesday evening even even- evening ing Katheryn Calder Martha Nelson and Josephine Hacking each sang Rev Geo Downey spoke A faint sound of a bugle was heard as though from afar which stirred the feelings of the people The next morning at daybreak people from all over the valley traveled to Ver- Ver Vernal nal naI- to witness the department of the boys Six autos decorated with stars and stripes were on hand to take the boys to Price As the bank clock the hour of 7 the autos left amid the firing of salutes and waving of handkerchiefs Oct 21 three more boys left The citizens of Vernal met on the op Co-op cor- cor corner corner ner A number of local musicians played Attorney Robert H Wallis gave a short address After three rousing cheers were given for the boys 22 autos filled with people formed into procession to the top of the hill where goodbyes were said and a salute of musketry bid them God Speed on their journey On Nov I 1 the fourth and last con con- contingent of men under selective draft were given a farewell on main street The streets were thronged with people The band rendered patriotic selections The pupils of the Central School sang Can ning of the Kaiser Sena Senator tor Don B Col- Col Colton Colton ton spoke After this Supt Earl Thomp- Thomp Thompson Thompson son lead the throng in three rousing cheers Simultaneously the row of lights on the roof of the bank building were turned on with a spot light from Dr automobile playing on the flag flagon flagon on top of the forestry office It made a avery avery very impressive sight A special page was set aside in the Ver- Ver Vernal Vernal nal Express where letters received by bythe bythe the families of soldiers were printed These are a few statements from those letters Lorin G Karren who was the first Uintah County boy to arrive in France wrote his mother a detailed ac- ac account account count of his journey I I am now in Ger- Ger Germany Germany many on the Rhine River I suppose you have read about the march to the Rhine It was a long hard hike but people be- be being being ing so glad to see us We came through Belgium and the people through this section were so glad to get free that they could not do enough to show the Americans how they felt felt Vern McCarroll wrote his father I 1 got shot three times but am getting along quite well I was operated on yesterday afternoon This morning I feel pretty good Charles Freestone Mother was very glad to hear you were all well I haven't got that cake yet nor northe northe the box of eats the ladies sent at Christmas They must sure be lost I received the medal the Commercial Club sent about two weeks ago I wouldn't take anything for it it Ed Fill the op co-op store from top to bottom and it would only start to fit out the clothing for the men of a training camp Martin Curtis I received the Express a day or two ago and was surely glad to see it again It reminded me of the days that used to before be-before the war Adair big Liberty Loan drive was on in Frisco and Oakland full blast and we paraded all through the towns The Feb 15 1918 Vernal Express headlines read Clive M Coupe First Vernal Boy To Die For His Country He had been stricken with meningitis The stake tabernacle was filled to capacity All business houses closed All school children attended the service His body laid in state at the First Ward Chapel and over a thousand peo pIe viewed the flag draped casket More soldiers began getting killed or wounded Aug 9 1918 Express had two headlines Memorial Services For Ralph Perry Who Died in France and Seth McConkie is Called on To Give His Life on I French rench Front More sad news on Aug 16 1918 The headlines were Dal Da Whitbeck eck Is Kill Kill- Killed Killed ed In France In Big Drive Aug 23 1918 headlines Vernal Boys Killed Ralph Perry died Vern McCar- McCar McCarrell McCarrell rell was severely wounded Sept 20 Hubert Hyrum Burns of Randlett was added to the death list In a personal interview Darrell King said On Nov 11 1918 Clair Coupe and me were down by the old brick tithing of of- of office fice shooting sparrow nests out with our flippers We heard the curfew bell start to ring rang When you heard that everyone went to the fire So we ran to town and the war had ended They had a parade all that day Old man Whitbeck knew that one of his boys was killed but he thought the theother theother other one would be coming home He was leading the first parade that morning I Ican Ican can still see him and his white hair He was really happy that day By golly just justa a few days later Harold Reader who liv- liv lived lived ed by him told me he heard him corn com corning ing down there crying and he had just got word his other boy Evan Kit was kill kill- killed killed ed That's where they got the name for forthe forthe the Whitbeck American Legion Post Nov 11 indeed proved to be a red let let- letter letter ter day for Vernal The joyous news of the signing of the armistice with Germany Ger- Ger Germany many was greeted with ringing t ells bells blowing of whistles firing of guns and other forms of jubilation according to the Nov 15 1918 1916 Vernal Express The news was received at 9 am The fire bell was continuously ringing Main street was crowded with people as the wor word spread Immediately a procession was formed which circled the business and residential district At 11 am am the procession halted in front of the flag pole on main street Speeches were made and it was announced that a grand parade would be staged at 4 pm Mayor S D Colton declared a holiday and all business establishments were ordered closed Ralph who attended this event told me that a sized life dummy of the Kaiser was brought and strung up upon upon on the flag pole and men with shot guns brought it down One of them being Lowe Ashton I learned the dummy was made by C W Showalter of the Orpheus and used in the play The Kaiser the Beast of Berlin The bullet riddled dummy was again raised on the flag pole where it hung in effigy Signs were made with Peace and other messages printed on At 3 o'clock Walter Barnes large Stanley Steamer truck was used to carry the fifteen piece bank under the direction of Charles Lewis around town A huge parade followed which ended at the court courthouse courthouse house where several loads of cedar wood and some wooden boxes were set ablaze People remained until the last dying cinder Resounding blasts and explosions were heard way into the night Sad news came to Vernal when after the celebration the towns people waited the return of their soldier boys They didn't know that some of them had already been killed before the armistice Besides Evan Whitbeck it was reported that Amos Hoeft Leland W Toll Ed ii r rW W hf it 4 1 W I y II 3 ly r a f t IN IN HONOR OF all service men and women from Uintah County in all wars the Doughboy statue erected in World War I was s lOcated locate in the center of Main Street a l 3 jt r tit dr vl 4 r n re BANK OF VERNAL corner on Nov 11 1918 The day the ar- ar armistice armistice was Germany and World War I ended This day became a holiday and was known as Armistice Day It was later changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars V er we r ri i BARNES AUTO STAGE in front of Leslie Ashton Hardware Company Com Com- Company pany Walter Barns is seated in the Buick stage ready to load young men who were leaving to fight in World War I I |