Our Past Is Present October 31, 2018

October 31, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story is about the homecoming for Geary County’s Company L. and Gaylynn Childs wrote this article, which may be found in its entirety on page 325 of the book Set In Stone.

            Junction City attracted state-wide attention with the welcome it gave the soldiers who fought in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War.  Company “L” of the 20^th Kansas Volunteers was made up of soldiers from Geary and Dickinson counties.  According to the accounts of several local officers published in area newspapers, they saw considerable action in battles fought in and near Manila.  In November of 1899, the war was over and the soldiers came home to a so-called “reception fit for a king.” 

            3,000 area residents waited at the depot for the train.  One account stated that “Early in the morning everyone was out decorating residences and businesses in honor of the 20^th Kansas boys who were expected on the 2:15 PM Union Pacific train.  The train was an hour late, but when it at last pulled in carrying its precious burden, such a shout arose as to almost shake the surrounding hills.”

            A 21 gun salute was fired by the artillery battery from Fort Riley.  Then, commanders quickly got the soldiers formed into a column for the parade.  The parade was headed by the Sixth Cavalry Band, then Mayor J.V. Humphrey and officers of the 20^th Kansas and Sixth Cavalry in carriages.  They were followed by veterans of the Mexican War and Civil War.  The Board of Education followed by the pupils of the city and county schools came next.

            The parade ended at the Opera House where the 20th Kansas boys were ushered inside by way of the stage door.  “When the Opera House doors were thrown open, thousands of people were waiting outside and in a very few minutes the house was filled to capacity leaving hundreds of people who could not enter.”

            This was a celebration deserved by Company L and any of those who serve our nation’s armed forces upon return from combat.  We should be sure to thank those who have and are serving us to keep us safe, preserving our democracy and our freedoms.

            And…. that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.