OCR Text |
Show LEGION MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE WAS IMPRESSIVE AND COLORFUL Milford's American Legion Memorial Day observance, first public observance of the day since 1935, was an impressive dignified dig-nified ceremony, conducted with just enough pomp to lend color to the occasion, and with sufficient solemnity to impress the . thrnnp- of sneetators with the sincerity of rmroose of those tak- ing part. The small parade formed at the Legion Hall, with the colors and color guard leading, followed fol-lowed by an open car carrying Mayor Kirk and the dignitaries who were to appear on the program. pro-gram. The Milford High School Marching Band was next in line, with a few Boy Scouts and uniformed uni-formed Legionnaires completing the line of march. The band played a drum cadence, changing chang-ing to a slow dirge cadence as they approached the ceremony. The group assembled before a white cross representing the American War Dead. After a few music numbers by the band, with Mrs. Twila Abbott singing the refrain to "God Bless America," Amer-ica," Larry Edwards recited the Gettysburg Address of President Presi-dent Lincoln, and Legion Chaplain Chap-lain J. M. Hughes gave the address ad-dress of the day. Thirteen wreaths were presented pre-sented at the cross, honoring the war dead, with representatives of the donor organizations passing pass-ing between the extended lines of the firing squad to lay their wreath at the symbolic grave. The band played an echo arrangement ar-rangement of Taps, and the firing fir-ing squad fired a three-gun salute. Father J. H. Valine, of St. Bridget's Catholic Church, gave . the invocation, and Rev. William Wil-liam K. Longacre, of the Milford ' Nazarene Church, the behedic- j tion. I |