Newspaper Article: Army Day Observance, 7 April 1942, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nance Sampson 25 February 1999 ==================================================================== Parade, Program Highlight Army Day Observance -Throngs Attend Patriotic Rally, Watch Parade Wilcox, Hull Speakers at Auditorium Program Eau Claire citizens, hundreds watching the parade along flag-be-decked Barstow street and other hundreds at the auditorium patriotic program payed tribute to the nation's armed forces last night as the nation observed Army Day on the 25th anniversary of American entry into World War I. The city's military and civilian defense units, marshalled in honor of war-time army day, swung down Barstow street from Wilson park to the auditorium where an hour-long program featured patriotic speeches, music by two bands, and individual tributes to relatives of servicemen. Wilcox Praises Effort Principal speakers at the program were Francis J. Wilcox, local attorney who praised spirit of Eau Claire's civilian war efforts as a fitting support for the servicemen fighting on far-flung battlefronts, and Congressman Merlin Hull, who termed the fervent patriotic demonstration a fitting answer to charges of midwest "complacency". Wilcox, point out Eau Claire's achievements in the four-month span since Pearl Harbor, disproved charges of "complacency" with these records: Nearly $750,000 purchases in defense bonds and stamps, an average of $25 for every person in the city, a figure exceeded only by New York City and Washington, D. C., and twice that of the rest of the nation. More than $1,250,000 in federal income tax payment, much of which will be repeated three more times. More than 1,400 men in the armed forces, five-sixths of whom were volunteers, making one of every four persons in the city's combat age group a voluntary member of the armed forces. More than 2,700 civilian defense registrants, 10 per cent above the quota and one of every seven in the adult population. "These figures," said Wilcox, "are a record to be proud of and show that Eau Claire can and will do the job along with the rest of America." Wilcox lauded the spirit with which the city had borne its period of greatest industrial unemployment since the logging industry when the war dislocated its greatest industrial plant. He toasted the time when Eau Claire would be streaming war products to the armed forces, a time that would again prove that we "have done a job when there was a job to do." Army of Idealism "We are rightly proud of the traditions and military glory of our armed forces," Wilcox said. But in addition, he pointed out, we can be proud that our army is an amateur one, fighting for love of American ideals and freedom, not for professional pride or pay. Wilcox paid tribute to the mothers and fathers of the men in service, men and women who shaped the material for our army and who can take pride in their sons' achievements as the nation honors these achievements. Civilian obligations to the armed forces constitute full service and cooperation at home -- a mobilization of all the forces and energy of the community toward the goal of victory, he asserted. Answers "Complacency" Charge Congressman Hull termed the rally and parad a demonstration and answer to those who talked of the "complacency" of the middle west. The group expresses, he said, America's determination to end this war, the way we did the last one, with complete victory. Hull's statement that he would like to have a "certain correspondent" present to see the parade and the gathering brought laughs and jeers from one crowd, who recalled Quentin Reynolds' use of Eau Claire as an example of midwest complacency. There are so many questions to be answered, he said, with the one uppermost that of how long before we will be able to turn around and do something to the enemy. This question he answered by saying that all across the country could be found the determination to end the war one day. He reviewed the history of the nation's war effort and pointed out that in May, 1940, President Roosevelt asked for 50,000 planes and the start of the manufacture of tanks. Many more thatn the 50,000 planes will be built soon, he said, and told of the building of tanks. Shipbuilding on the west coast was mentioned briefly, and the speaker told in general terms what is being done to repair the state we found ourselves in at the start of the war, short of ships. Hull concluded with a plea for unity of purpose and determination to protect all we have, and we will dictate the peace. Art Hanstrom M. C. Master of ceremonies at the rally was "Seaman" Art Hanstrom, popular WEAU sportscaster, who has relinquished his civilian work to enter the radio training program of the U. S. Navy. Seated on the stage with the speakers were chairmen and leaders in civilian defense work and army, navy and marine recruiting officers. Musical salutes to the three branches of the armed force were played by the State Guard band of Company L and the Eau Claire municipal band, -- "Thirty- Second Division march" for the army, "Anchors Aweigh" for the navy, and "Salute to the Marines" for the marine corps. Mrs. Kenneth Boggs, wife of an anti-aircraft unit commander on bomb-battered Corregidor Capt. Kenneth Boggs of Eau Claire, relayed from her husband the determination of the U. S. - Filipino garrison to hold that gun-bristling stronghold against the might of the Jap invasion armies. Soldier Parent's Honored Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Elliott, parents of Norman Elliott who fell prisoner to the Japanese after the heroic marine defense of Wake Island, were cheered upon their introduction. A. J. Lewis, president of the International Gideon organization told of the plan to "Arm the Men with the Gospel Too," and reported that 1,181,765 Testaments have now been distributed to the men in service. Donald McRea, assistant defense coordinator of Chippewa county presented a vocal solo, "There is No Death." The nurses chorus of Luther hospital, directed by Richard Lee, sang "Flag of Liberty," "In Heaven Above," and "Evening Shadows." The pledge of allegiance to the flag concluded the ceremony. "America" and "The Star Spangled Banner," sung by the entire gathering opened and closed the program. The parade units, organized under the direction of W. C. Keller, included: Motorcycle escort, squad cars, squad of marching policemen, fire department apparatus, and speaker's car. Color Guard, state guard band, Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls state guard companies, reserve officers and men in uniform, OCD fire auxiliary. Municipal band, Civil war, Spanish American war, World war veterans and VFW members. St. Patrick's high school band, OCD police auxiliary, Red Cross unit, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, GAR auxiliary, Women's Relief corps, veterans' auxiliaries, CIO and AFL marching units. --Taken from the Daily Telegram, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI, 7 Apr. 1942.