Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Mass.

Title

Spanish War Veterans Welcome Home Day, October 13, 1919

Description

"The Spanish War veterans marched in the Welcome Home Day parade 'in force, the men who followed the Civil War veterans as their country's defenders...they marched together for the last time, these heroic men whom the entire town delighted to honor, a khaki host that made a picture that will remain in the memories of those who beheld them for many a day. The line of march was lined with a tremendous crowd on foot and in automobiles and these applauded heartily as the heroes passed by.' The parade was held to honor the returning veterans of World War I. The Richardson Light Guard was called to action when the United States declared War on Spain on April 26, 1898. The 6th Regiment, of which Company A of the Richardson Light Guard was a member, was the first regiment to offer its services as a volunteer regiment. The men left town on May 6, 1898 under Captain Edward J. Gihon and were mustered into United States service on May 12, 1898 as Company A, 6th Massachusetts Volunteers. The men traveled to Virginia and South Carolina and boarded the Yale to the battlefront in Cuba, Guantanamo and finally Puerto Rico. They were the first United States Regiment to land there. The Regiment returned to Wakefield later that year. The veterans formed the Corp. Charles F. Parker Camp 39, United States Spanish War Veterans organization in 1909 with principles of freedom, patriotism and humanity. On October 12, 1926, the Spanish War Veterans' Hiker Monument was dedicated at the Rockery in honor of the men who served in the war." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.

Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 1993

Photo courtesy of Helen Sullivan.

Contributor

Institution: Lucius Beebe Memorial Library

Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.)

D'Onofrio, Jayne M.

Coverage

Massachusetts--Middlesex (county)--Wakefield

Date

10-13-1919

Format

image/jpeg

Publisher

Wakefield, Mass. : Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department

Subject

Parades

Soldiers

Type

still image

Photographs

Original Format

1 picture : b&w

Extent

14 x 25 cm.