Lawrence Light guard home again.
After four months absence (almost to the hour) Company E, Fifth Regiment, returned on October 21, with unbroken ranks, from their service at the border.
Met at Tufts square by the veterans of the
Grand Army, and city officials, and escorted by the high school battalion, in solid formation with swinging stride our
[p. 89] soldier boys marched into Medford square at I 1.45 o'clock to the inspiring strains of ‘Onward Christian Soldier’ by the
Everett City Band.
At Governors avenue the column turned, and recrossing the square marched to the common, where the greeting and welcome of the city was extended by the mayor, after which the assembled throng gave expression to theirs in three rousing cheers and a vociferous tiger.
The march was then resumed to the armory, and as the great doors closed behind them the boys realized it was ‘home again’ for them.
In our last issue we had barely space (page 70) to allude to their departure, which we witnessed, and to call attention to our illustration, showing the company at attention during the mayor's address.
As we flung out the flag in greeting from the window of our rooms, where we also watched their departure, we could but notice a change in the appearance of the assembled throng.
The tense, strained look upon the faces of the elders had given place to glad smiles and shouts of welcome, and behind it all, a thankfulness that
Medford's boys had
all come back.
And the
Grand Army men, the Boys in Blue of the
Civil War, though now so few, in their welcome of the Boys in Khaki, showed the same feeling, intensified by the memory of
their times and home coming.
The events of today are history tomorrow.
As such the Register notes this event, and our laureate adds the following tribute:—
Company E.
In days of June, sweet smiling June,
When queenly roses bloomed,
The peace that brooded o'er our land
Was threatened by a hostile hand,
Black clouds of warfare loomed.
The states were roused from sea to sea,
We said good-bye to ‘Boys of E.’
We hear the trumpets joyful sound
One bright October day,
[p. 90] And streets resound with rhythmic tramp
Of men returning from the camp
Flags blazing all the way.
While eager throngs press close to see
And welcome home the ‘Boys of E.’
Quick beats our heart for soldier lads,
We hold them as our own.
In peace, in war, whate'er the call,
One crowning thought must govern all,
One flag, one country, one alone.
Secure our faith shall ever be,
That duty rules the ‘Boys of E.’
C. H. L.
