Yuma County WWI Draft March 1918, Colorado Contributed by LuJean Zion. A copy of the photograph used with the article is posted in the COGenWeb Photo pages www.rootsweb.com/~cophotos/Yuma/ If you want to copy this article see the USGenWeb Archive Project Notice at the end of the file. Wray Rattler March 7, 1918 (Headline) Yuma County Boys off for Training Camp (Sub-headline) Were Given Great Ovation. Fine Bunch of Patriotic Citizens (Photograph Captioned) Picture of Yuma County Boys Who Left Monday, Sheriff Hitchcock and Members of Woman's National Service League. Photo by Coston What was perhaps the greatest demonstration yet, was accorded the twenty-three stalwart, brave, philosophical young men who answered their country's call and left Monday for their training camp, after which they will go "over there" to fight for the freedom and democracy of the world. Fully two thousand people were at the noon train to see them entrain and give them a hearty God-speed and safe return. The boys assembled at Wray Sunday afternoon and were taken in charge by the Local Board -- that is they reported to the Local Board, but were privileged to go about as they pleased. Monday forenoon all assembled at the courthouse where with a part of the members of the Woman's National Service League and Sheriff Hitchcock, they had their pictures "took". At eleven they met at the Odd Fellow Hall where the League had prepared a "sumptuous repast", and a few of the citizens joined them in this dinner. Music was furnished during the meal by the Robert Taylor Orchestra. At the conclusion of the meal, Senator Mitten introduced Frank T. Hawks of the Rattler, who in a brief time told of the (words missing) but to become the country's strong right arm to uphold here in her hour of stress. They boys all stood up and each received from the Woman's National Service League a sweater and other useful articles to take with them on their way. And this article would not be complete did it not state that the ladies of Vernon presented to each of the boys from Vernon and Idalia and vicinity a complete comfort kit. When this was completed, and there were a few minutes to spare before leaving for the train, the orchestra having struck up a waltz, a few of the boys seized a lady and took the middle of the floor gliding through the "hesitation", two-step and other fantastical steps. But it was at the train that the crowds assembled. Every business house in town closed for the entire hour from 12 to 1, and hundreds of citizens from the county joined in pay homage to this splendid contingent of young men who are going out from among us for a time. Following is a roster of those who left Monday: William E McElvain, Yuma, Colo Usber E Kelsey, Holoyoke, Colo Thomas Leroy Thompson, Wray, Colo Clarence Partch, Wray, Colo George Henry Schroeder, Vernon, Colo James Edward Penton, Wray, Colo Joseph H Fisher, Wray, Colo William Alfred Jackson, Idalia, Colo William Clyde Cumley, Wray, Colo Jay Alexander Williams, Witherbee, Colo David L McMurrin, Happyville, Colo Elmer Chas. Lovejoy, Inavale, Nebr Adolph Jacob Gottfried Geoglin, Yuma, Colo Lynn Leighton Allen, Armel, Colo Guy Bullock, Emporia, Kans Harry C Smith, Haxtun, Colo Chas. Herbert Wright, Yuma Colo Walter Edwin Click, Wray, Colo James Woodson Lawrence, Wray, Colo Henry J Brockmeyer, Yuma, Colo Fred Glen Murrow, Idalia, Colo Two did not go. They are Virgil White Morris, of Armel, who is somewhere in Nebraska, but who has not responded to any letters or telegrams, and Roy Lemuel Elgin of Yuma, who was granted a forty- eight hour leave on account of the serious illness of his father. --------------------------------------------- Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) Archives and by the COGenWeb Project Archives (http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm) USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.