Oroville Mercury Register (OMR)
June 1. 1942
City Honors War Dead On Memorial Day
Better World Can come Out Of This War, Says Critchett
“We have entered World War II in self defense but the fruits of
victory will be a better world,”
George E. Critchett,
past commander of the United Spanish American War Veterans Saturday
told a large crowd of Oroville people gathered in Municipal auditorium
to honor the nation’s soldier and sailor dead. The Memorial
Day ceremonies were the most comprehensive held in Oroville in many
years. “In the first World War we won the battle but lost
in peace. We were hated by other nations. If America
can carry the spirit of war unity into peace it will produce a new
era in national life,: he said. “We shall not let heroism
die by forgetting the hero,” Crichett said. “Bestowing a medal
does not pay all the debt. Heroism has earned the reward of
undying memory by a grateful people. “Wars are no longer
won on the battlefield, alone,” He pointed out. “The men of
Bataan bear evidence of that. The loss of Malay and Singapore
does not mean that there are better soldiers under the yellow skin.
It does mean that it takes food, and guns as well. In closing
he pleaded for the fraternity of American interests-“One for all
and all for one.”
A parade consisting of citizens from every walk of life in Oroville,
patriotic and civic organizations, Boy and Girl Scouts, school students,
lodges and many unaffiliated persons made its way to the Feather
River bridge where flowers were strewn upon the water in honor of
the war dead. The
Rev. Mr. D. D. Champlin of the Congregational church delivered
the benediction and the salute to the dead and “Taps” were preformed
by the high school cadets. The high school band opened
the program at the auditorium with the playing of the Star Spangled
Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by V. V.
Ricketts, past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The address of welcome was given by W. S. Boone, senior vice commander
of the United Spanish War Veterans. The American Legion Auxiliary
group composed by Mrs. Ellen
Walker, Mrs. Bess
Phillips, and Mrs.
Florence Boyle, accompanied
at the piano by Mrs. Carey
Strang, presented a vocal number.
Invocation was delivered by
Rev. Mr. W. S. Woodhull
of the Methodist Church.
James Walker, past
commander of the American Legion, presented the Gettysburg Address
which was followed by Eugene
Carter, senior vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars who read “Logan’s Orders.” Following Critchett’s address,
Mrs. Walker sang
“My Buddy” accompanied by
Mrs. Strang.
Benediction was by Rev.
Fr. P. J. McCarthy of St. Thomas Catholic Church. Following
the program ceremonies continued at the cemeteries where flowers
and flags were placed on the graves.
100 Dine at “O” Banquet
One hundred members and guests attended the Block O banquet at Oroville
High School following the initiation of fifty four new members,
Wednesday night. Bill
Dolan was the guest speaker of the evening and gave a brief
history of the athletic activities of the high school. Principal
J. C. Nisbet was
master of ceremonies and short talks were given by the coaches and
Roger Van Duzer,
president. During the day-long initiation which saw all initiates
come to school dressed in girl’s dresses and wearing make-up was
completed by the formal initiation in the gymnasium in the early
evening. The entire group enjoyed a banquet with the dinner
being prepared by Mrs. Blance
Rice and the cooking class. Those initiated were:
Darell Porter,
Bob Williams,
Phillip Sorenson,
Floyd Coggin,
Walter Frasier,
Frank Lind,
Harry Gleason,
Claude Wilson,
Perry Coleman,
Al Davis,
Kenny O’Brien, Charles
O’Brien, Jack Alpers, Darell
Crouch, Bobby Worthy,
Gene Mitchell,
Maclay Burt,
Burith Robertson,
H. D. D’Amico,
Samuel Broadnax,
Bob Orange,
George Ford,
Jim Toland, Don Evans,
Donald Richter,
Willare Johnson,
Ralph Atkins,
Joe Evich,
Pat Fitzsimmons,
Bill Sweeney,
Bobby Robertson,
George Beard,
Bill Dresser,
Chester Vance,
Bob Thomas,
Bob Daley,
Gordon Hobbie, Charles
Custer, and David Cox.
Stu’s Notes: The Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Committee
took responsible for the Memorial Day program a few years
ago. Soon, I will give you the names of the committee members.
We have been meeting and working hard to put it together.
Let’s hope this year we have a bigger turn out, maybe as big as
in 1942!. The young men named above are freshmen, mostly and
most will go to war. Some will not come home. Please
come out Memorial Day and remember them all. Feather Falls
Casino has again agreed to help us on a Motorcycle Run, Chairman
and Oroville Veterans Memorial Park Committee members
John and Joyce Archibald
are our ramrods on this event to take place on August 15,
2009.