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Show ' POWERS THAT BE can change dates all they wish, but there will always be only one Veterans Day for me . . . ' and that's Nov. 11. 't Probably it's because, un like the majority of my read- ers, I can remember the first one. That was back in 1918. Sure, I was a mere tad of a lad, but it's one of my mighiest memories. They , can close the stores and the postoffice and the courthouse on Oct. 28 all they please I'll still celebrate mildly on Nov. 11. HAVE YOU EVER stopped to think 'of the tremendous strides we have taken, i scientifically, in just the past half-century? Doesn't seem possible, but In 1918 radio hadn't even been invented yet. The big news always came by telegraph. tele-graph. The local " depot" was the source of anything great happening such as the signing sign-ing of an Armistice in Europe. When it happened on that day word flew from the depot like wildfire. The fire whistle screamed. Two freight engines in the railroad rail-road opened their whistles. All the church bells in town rang and kept on ringing. MANY PEOPLE cried openly. Some were almost hysterical. Ever ybody cheered and small groups gathered to cheer and sing "Over There' ' and "There's A Long, Long TrailA-Wind-ing." Impromptu parades formed form-ed everywhere, and folks joined hands and snake danced through the streets. That night there was a monstrous bonfire around the flagpole at the Main Street intersection. All the spare trash was heaped on, and then the high school boys started bringing in privies many of them followed by irate can-owners. THAT WAS the first one. The ones that followed were not so impromptu but they were just as important. ARM-itice Day was the BIG day. Military parades with all the men in uniform, and bands, and speeches, and more bonfires, but without privies. What happened? Probably World War II. It was even longer, and much bigger, but it didn't end so suddenly, quickly enough to send all America into hysterics. Well, whatever. Presidential Presiden-tial edict may move it to any, old Monday, to give federal employes another long week end. But I'll still celebrate, very mildly, Nov. 11. And besides, newspapermen have to work on holidays no matter what day they come. Mac. |