Historic Pelham: Big Parade in Pelham to Honor Those Who Registered for World War I Draft

The North Pelham fire whistle sounded its piercing blast at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 1917. The whistle blew five blasts -- ordinarily the signal for summoning police throughout the Village. The five blasts awakened the entire village, but no one was alarmed. Rather, the whistle signified the beginning of a day-long patriotic celebration. That day the whistle summoned all residents of North Pelham to gather at the firehouse.

All three Villages of Pelham that day honored all townsmen who registered for the draft. World War I was raging and the nation sought men for military service.

At 6:45 a.m., the volunteer police force constituting the Home Defense Forces of all three villages in The Pelhams assembled at Village Hall in the Village of Pelham Manor. At 7:00 a.m. that day, church bells began ringing at churches throughout Pelham. The bells rang continuously for thirty minutes. Also at 7:00 a.m., a 21-gun salute was fired, awakening any residents who had not yet been jolted out of bed by the fire whistle and the church bells. At the same moment, the flags on all public buildings in the Town were hoisted. In addition, the Home Defense Forces began a parade that wound its way from Pelham Manor Village Hall through Pelham Manor, the Village of Pelham (Pelham Heights), and the Village of North Pelham.

The United States joined the allied forces of Britain, France, and Russia and, on April 6, 1917, entered World War I. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France during the war.

To gear up for the fight, on May 18, 1917, the President signed into law the Selective Service Act (Pub.L. 65-12, 40 Stat. 76) authorizing the Federal government to raise a national army through conscription for service in World War I. The law required all males aged 21 to 30 to register for potential draft into the military service.

Pelham showed its appreciation for its young men who complied with the new law through a day set aside to honor them on June 5, 1917. In addition to the festivities described above, all three Pelham village presidents issued proclamations that, among other things, provided:

"The people of the several villages are earnestly urged to display the national flag and to assist the demonstration in honor of our defenders in every way possible, and to devote their entire day if feasible, to 'the men of the hour.'"

The little Town of Pelham was preparing for war -- World War.

Iconic World War I U.S. Army Recruiting Poster

Designed by Pelham Manor Native James Montgomery

Flagg. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

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"PELHAMS GOING TO HONOR MEN WHO REGISTER THERE
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Parade Arranged Through All the Villages -- Church Bells to Ring.
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North Pelham, June 4. -- All three villages in the town will take official cognizance of registration tomorrow. In honor of those who register, a parade has been arranged to pass through the three villages. This will begin at 7 o'clock tomorrow and will include the Home Defense forces. The church bells will ring for a half hour and a national salute of 21 guns will be fired. In North Pelham, the people will be summoned to the fire house at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning when the fire whistle will sound the police call which is five blasts.

The following proclamation was issued today by the village presidents in the town:

To the Citizens of the Villages of North Pelham, Pelham Manor and Pelham:

Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of an act of congress, approved May 18, 1917, as the day upon which all citizens between the ages of 21 and 31 years shall register their names for military service, and

Whereas, pursuant to the requirements of such act of congress, some ten million men will offer their names from which are to be chosen the future defenders of the country, and

Whereas the act of these men in so registering their names is of vital interest and importance to every citizen of the United States and marks a new era in the life of the nation.

Now therefore, we the undersigned, presidents of the respective villages set opposite our names for the purpose of affording the people of our villages an opportunity of expressing in part, their grateful appreciation of the sacrifices our young men are making, have made the following arrangements for June 5, 1917: At 7 a.m., the hour of opening the polls, all the church bells in the several villages will be rung for one-half hour. The flags on all public buildings will be hoisted. A national salute of 21 guns will be fired at the place of assembly. The volunteer police force constituting the Home Defense forces of all three villages will assemble at 6:45 a.m. at the village hall in the village of Pelham Manor, and at 7 a.m. a parade will form and will march through the villages of Pelham Manor, Pelham and North Pelham. The people of the several villages are earnestly urged to display the national flag and to assist the demonstration in honor of our defenders in every way possible, and to devote their entire day if feasible, to 'the men of the hour.'

This is signed, William Edinger, president of the village of North Pelham; Joseph C. Wilbering, president of the village of Pelham Manor; A. C. Field, president of the village of Pelham."

Source: PELHAMS GOING TO HONOR MEN WHO REGISTER THERE -- Parade Arranged Through All the Villages -- Church Bells to Ring, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 4, 1917, No. 8384, p. 5, col. 5.

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Labels: 1917, A. C. Field, Draft, Joseph C. Wilbering, Parade, Soldiers, William Edinger, World War I