Thousands Join Line Viewed by Greater Throng

From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, August 6: Last night a throng of 60,000 lined Meridian St from North St south and around Monument Circle to watch the Service Flag parade of mothers and fathers and wives of Indianapolis soldiers. The Indianapolis Military Band led the 8,000 participants which included men from the vocational training detachments. During the hour-long passage, emblems of sacrifice - Gold Stars of the dead heroes - were scattered among the thousands of Blue Stars for the living men on the fighting line in France and in the camps. Women cried openly, and men did not try to hide their emotions as they marched with subdued onlookers viewing the parade as a solemn occasion. The War Camp Community Service members, organizers of the parade, believe that this is the first Service Flag parade in the country.

“Thousands Join Line Viewed by Greater Throng,” The Indianapolis Star, 6 August 1918, p. 1:3

#worldwarone #parade #patriotism #sacrifice #flag

City to Keep Record of Its Part in the War

From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, July 30: Indianapolis Mayor Charles Jewett proposed today that a public record be kept showing the supreme and lesser sacrifices being made by the city’s men and women in the successful prosecution of the war. The roll of honor should be placed somewhere in the city’s center and be visible where all can read it. “We want set down in large sized numerals the number of boys who are in the army, the navy, the medical corps, and hospital units. We want to give prominent position to our daughters who are Red Cross nurses or who are otherwise serving our nation overseas and at home. We want the world to know how far we exceeded our quota in each Liberty Loan campaign,” the Mayor said. The Marion County Liberty Loan Committee has approved this proposal.

“City to Keep Record of Its Part in the War,” The Indianapolis News, 30 July 1918, p. 3:2

#worldwarone #MayorJewett #wareffort #sacrifice #militaryservice #LibertyLoan

Elevated Tracks at Union Station in Use

From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, July 30: The first train, loaded with passengers and express freight, to run on the new elevated west section of the Indianapolis Union Railway pulled away from the Union Station platform promptly at 12:15 p.m. today with more than 100 spectators looking on. Vandalia train passengers climbed stairs to reach the elevated track, while the baggage and express freight was taken to the track level by elevator. Trains coming to Indianapolis from the south, southwest, and west on the Louisville Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Monon and Vandalia systems will use these new tracks. While work continues along the eastern section of the track elevation, the New York Central Lines will use the surface tracks. To date, the track elevation project has cost $5,000,000 (2017: $82,960,434) with completion scheduled for January 1919.

“Elevated Tracks at Union Station in Use,” The Indianapolis News, 30 July 1918, p. 4:5

#onehundredyearsago #trains #elevatedtracks #transportation #publictransportation #UnionStation