"Welcome Home" After WWI

"WELCOME HOME TO LONGMEADOW'S SONS"
JULY FIRST 1919
Cover of Souvenir Booklet
Courtesy of State Library of Massachusetts

On July 1, 1919 there was a special event in the town of Longmeadow, MA. Longmeadow welcomed home the Marines, the Soldiers and the Sailors who had returned after serving their country during World War I. On that Tuesday evening dinner was served at 6:45 PM in the Chapel to these honored guests. During dinner there was music and songs. 

Longmeadow town residents had been invited to come to the Town Green at 8 PM to continue the celebration on that summer evening. Everyone had the opportunity to show their appreciation for the service of these brave individuals who had returned home. The 104th Regiment Band provided the music that everyone enjoyed on the Town Green. A welcome speech was given by First Church Rev. Randolph S. Merrill and Rev. Henry Lincoln Bailey wrote a song, "Longmeadow's Welcome", for this special event. Speeches were given by Chaplin Lyman Rollins and Longmeadow resident and Longmeadow/ Springfield physician Maj. Harry C. Martin. Monologs were presented by Sgt. Harry Roach.   

The committee that planned this event had also prepared a program that would be a souvenir. Names were listed along with each individual's war service. 

Longmeadow, MA was one of the numerous communities throughout the United States that held special "Welcome Home" celebrations to thank and to honor the individuals who had risked their lives. The neighboring town of East Longmeadow welcomed home its soldiers on July 3, 1919. Maj. Harry C. Martin was a guest speaker at that event, too. Just to name a few other communities among all of the communities throughout our country that celebrated "Welcome Home" after WWI - Harrisburg, PA and Kalamazoo, MI and Woodbury, NJ and Newburyport, MA and Lancaster, WI and Springfield, MA. It was time to celebrate that these brave individuals had returned home.       

Other Sources: Springfield Republican- July 1, 1919 and July 4, 1919.  

~Written by Judy Moran