Germany’s struggle continued during the week of March 24-30, 1919, as Americans continued to celebrate.
The week began with news that the German government was transforming “into a soviet government which will cooperate or merge with the government of the Hungarian soviet.”
The opinion of workers councils in Germany and Austria was said to be “that after the collapse of imperialism in Germany and Austria-Hungary, the imperialist victors are our chief enemies. If the Paris conference seeks to offer violence to entire nations and violates the rights of self determination, it will meet with determined resistance from the workingman.”
The same newspaper page carried the news that 8,000 more American troops arrived home from France. Another 27,000 troops paraded down Fifth Avenue in New York City to the cheering of millions. Despite the parade, it seemed Galesburg’s soldiers just wanted to move past their service and live their lives, as it was reported that less than half of the 400 invitations sent to local soldiers to be honored in a banquet had replied they would come.
It still went on, however, at the United Methodist Church. Clyde E. Stone, a justice of the Illinois State Supreme Court, was a featured speaker.
“Mothers have sacrificed most in war,” he told the crowd, “here they’re stayed, working, waiting, scanning the newspapers. All the huns in the world can’t whip boys made of that kind of stuff and fastened in the mould.”
Galesburg and Mayor Bradley also sent floral arrangements to the families of thirty-six of Knox County’s fallen, with this letter enclosed:
“While the City of Galesburg is extending its welcome to its returning soldiers and sailors at the banquet given as an official expression of our appreciation of the service that they have rendered in the Great War, we do not forget those who will never return because they have made the supreme sacrifice.
“Our hearts thrill with pride at the thought of their devotion. Their place is secure forever, and their names are engraved on pages of history that will never fade.
“To the families of these men we extend our heartfelt sympathy, on behalf of the citizens of Galesburg, in the great sorrow that a soldier’s untimely but glorious death must always bring.
“In token of that sympathy, we send these flowers, and beg you to receive them as a tribute glady offered by your fellow citizens to a household that sent forth a hero to give his life for the Great Cause.”
Other Galesburg boys were still in France, writing home.
Chester Griffith was one of them.
“We had more or less excitement until the 13th of September when we went over the top for the first time,” he told his mother.
“We did it again the 14th. I stayed with the boys until the 18th, when I was gassed. I ran into mustard gas while making a run. I was sent to a gas hospital in Toul, but pneumonia set in and they sent me to a base hospital in southern France. I was in bed six weeks. I was on my way to the replacement camp when the armistice was signed.”
A celebration of prosperity occurred in Galesburg during the week.
“The Galesburgh Overland Company with the Galesburgh Machine Works, celebrate today the opening of their fine, new home,” read the Evening Mail.
“The large new building at Seminary and Tompkins streets is one of the finest automobile sales structures in the middle west and a credit to the men who are responsible for it. Fred Peterson and Arthur G. Miller, who have sponsored this big Overland business and developed it to its present position. ... The new building is already one of the points of interest in Galesburgh and the volume of business being done here in the dollars and cents way ranks with the leading firms in other lines of endeavor in the city.”
Mayor William O. Bradley, along with other city leaders such as Max J. Mack and E.B. Jackson spoke at the building’s opening. Today, the building in newly remodeled and home to Cornucopia Natural Market and Deli along with Jimmy’s Pizza.
Fallen soldiers whose families received flowers from the mayor:
• Ralph Noble
• J. Ossian Johnson
• Harold Nels