Corvallis, MT - Corvallis American Legion Post #91 and the Ladies Auxiliary will host
the 97th annual Corvallis Memorial Day Parade at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 29, 2017.
This year the parade theme is “Remembering World War I Centennial.” The
Parade Grand Marshall is Diane Bowden Stoner.
World
War I, the First World War, the Great War, or the War to End All Wars, began on
July 28, 1914. The Congress of the Unites States of America did not declare war
on the Central Powers (German Empire, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and
Bulgaria) until April 6, 1917. Three factors caused the United States of
America stop its policy of non-intervention.
First, the unrestricted submarine warfare by the
German Empire, starting with the
sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915 where 128 citizens of the United States of
America were lost. German U-boats continued patrolled the shipping lanes of the
Atlantic Ocean, and by 1917 several more US merchant
ship were lost due to these attacks.
Second, the
United Kingdom intercepted the Zimmermann Telegram. This telegram was sent from
the German Empire’s Foreign Minister Zimmermann to the Mexican government. The
telegram stated that the German Empire wanted Mexico to join the war on the
side of the Central Powers. If Mexico would become an ally, the German Empire
would help finance Mexico’s war to take back Texas, New Mexico and Arizona from
the United States of America.
Third,
President Woodrow Wilson, felt that the only way to end all wars in the future,
was to win the “War to End All Wars.” His main argument stated that, if the
United States of America wanted to have a seat at any peace conference, it
better be involved in the fighting in Europe. The United States of America
never officially became an member of the “Allies,” but fashioned itself as an
“Associated Power.”
At its high
water mark the United States of America had a total strength of 4,743,826
combatants. Of nearly 5 million, 24 of them started the Corvallis American
Legion Post #91. Here is a list of their names: R.D. Giesy, G.E. Chaffin, Isiah
P. Pile, William Hay, George A. Lairy, Earl L. Hall, Ed Johnson, Earl Younker,
George O. Rasmussen, Sidney A. Johnson, Willard Hall, Maurice Holloron, D.F.
Bowden, Robert W. Poll, Frank Thompson Crow, Paul H. Knaak, William Riewodlt,
George B. Korman, D.C. Seely, Archie Comstock, Earl W. Gilleland, Bonniaventura
Coleman, Andrew Estrada, and Eldon Stoltenburg. D.F. “Dud” Bowden was the first
post commander. This year’s Grand Marshall is Dud’s daughter Diane Bowden
Stoner, through her we are honoring all of our charter members and all of the
veterans of World War I.
After
the parade, at the Corvallis Cemetery at 12:00 pm Post #91 will conduct its
annual memorial ceremony. Post members will name all the veterans buried at the
cemetery dating back to the Mexican War (1848). After the cemetery ceremony,
post members will move to the Woodside Cutoff Bridge and place a wreath in the
Bitterroot River for all those who died at sea.
Events start off early on Memorial Day with the Corvallis
Community Events Center (CCEC) serving breakfast from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at
the Corvallis High School Lunchroom located off the Eastside highway.
After
the completion of the parade there will be food booths and games in front of
the Corvallis High School. This event is put on by the Corvallis High School
Performing Arts. The food booths and games will be open until 1:00pm.
For 97 years the Bitterroot Valley
has enjoyed this rich tradition of honoring those active duty personnel and
veterans who have died. Today, we honor all of the United States of America‘s
war dead -- those who died that freedom might live.
World
War I veterans started the Corvallis Memorial Day parade after they returned
from Europe. The first parade consisted of a color guard and veterans, staging
in the alley to the west of Main Street. 97 years ago the first annual
Corvallis Memorial Day Parade started south down a dirt Main Street.
Memorial
Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who
have died in our nation’s service. The holiday was first proclaimed on May 5,
1868 by General John Logan and was observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were
placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. Until World War I many
people in the South refused to acknowledge Decoration Day. Memorial Day is now
celebrated on the last Monday in May. To pre-register online go to: http://corvallispost91.blogspot.com/
