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1924: Defense Day observation means parade followed by speech, music and exhibition drill

Subhead
Bits by Betty
Lead Summary
By
Betty Mann, President, Rock County Historical Society

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on September 12, 1924:
 
LUVERNE PLANS FOR DEFENSE TEST DAY
 
Local Committee Completes Arrangements for Fitting Observance of Day This Afternoon
 
CO. H TO BE RECRUITED TO FULL WAR STRENGTH
 
Parade at 3 0’Clock will be Followed by Speech, Music and Exhibition Drill at Fair Grounds
 
Today is Defense Day, and it will be observed in Luverne this afternoon with appropriate exercises, conforming to the proclamations issued by President Coolidge and Governor Preus.
Company H, of the 205th infantry, M. N. G., will, under the order of the war department be mobilized to full war strength for the day only, such mobilization to be through volunteer recruiting. The war strength of Company H is 141 men and 5 officers.
The program for the day, as arranged by the committee appointed by Mayor C. S. Brewer, calls for the observance of the day to begin at 3 o’clock this afternoon. At that hour all citizens who wish to enlist in Company H for the exercises, are requested to assemble at the armory for enrollment.
At the meeting of the Luverne Kiwanis club last week, it was unanimously voted that all members of the club enlist in the company for the day. This number will not bring the company up to full war strength. Moreover, the company is not restricted to number above given, but can enroll as many as volunteer. Therefore, all citizens of military age are invited to enlist.
At 3 o’clock, or after the mobilization of the company, the company will form in line and march from the Armory to the corner of Main and Freeman; thence east to the corner of Main and McKenzie streets; thence back to the corner of Main and Freeman, and thence to the fair grounds. The regular members of the company will appear in uniform, while the recruits will be given distinctive badges. In the formation for the parade, the regular members and the recruits will intermingle.
At 2:45 the company bugler will sound the assembly to call attention to the hour of enlistment.
When the company reaches the fair grounds they will form in front of the speakers’ stand, where Major A. A. Anderson will read the Governor’s proclamation. Following this a short address, explaining the purpose of defense test day, will be given by E. H. Canfield, Esq. These exercises will be interspersed with selections by the Luverne band. One of the selections will be “America,” and all present will be asked to join in singing the anthem.
At the close of these exercises the recruits will be dismissed and the regular members of Company H will then give an exhibition drill. Following the drill the company will march to the Armory for dismissal.
At meetings held during the past week by the Luverne Commercial club and Dell-Hogan Post, American Legion, approval of defense day was voted by these organizations, with the understanding that hearty co-operation should be given.
The local committee in charge of the observance is Frank Ferguson, H. C. Engan, Henry Koehn and James Horne.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

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