100 years ago in The Saratogian
Sunday, April 29, 1917
“Patriotism rampant is the only proper description of how Ballston Spa entered into the spirit” of today’s parade and rallies for the U.S. war effort. The parade and rallies at St. Mary’s and Methodist Episcopal churches were organized by the Home Defense Committee “for the purpose of aiding in the enlistment of volunteers for the army and navy and to awaken the patriotism of citizens,” The Saratogian reports.
A naval recruiting station opened in Ballston Spa yesterday. Saratoga County is struggling to meet its part of the 800-man volunteer quota set for the Albany naval recruiting district, while Congress this weekend approved legislation authorizing a draft for a new 500,000-man army. The U.S. declared war on Germany on April 6.
An estimated 1,000 people take part in the parade, forming in Monument Square at 2 p.m. The line of march includes three bands and a fife and drum corps. The village’s Italian Society hires a band from Glens Falls for the occasion. “This speaks well for the patriotism of the sons of sunny Italy,” a Ballston Spa correspondent writes.
Carrying the colors is Alexander Morrison, a Civil War veteran and survivor of the infamous Andersonville prison camp.
“The march included High street, Milton avenue to the north bridge and counter march to the monument, where the companies were dismissed and hastened to the St. Mary’s or Methodist churches, where the speaking was taking place,” the reporter writes.
At St. Mary’s, Rev. Dr. Charles Alexander Richmond, president of Union College and a Presbyterian, describes the “unusual pleasure of speaking in a Catholic church with an Irish priest on the platform.
“This is a token of the spirit of Union that has taken hold of the country, that now knows no east or west, no north or south, no Republican or Democrat, nor Catholic or Protestant but all united in the love of our common country and willing to give our lives if need be for the honor of our flag.” At Methodist Episcopal, Rev. C. G. Martin tells a “militant Ballston Spa” that “we want to wake up to the fact that this is not a war we are looking at across the water, but our war.”
“He spoke of the terribleness of the Prussian military power running thru the centuries and how its aim was to be a world power,” the Ballston Spa Daily Journal reports, “There is only one thing for us to do and that is war to the limit.”
Edward Rood, who sings the French “Marseillaise” at the Methodist church, has volunteered for coastal artillery service and leaves for duty tomorrow.