Armistice Day Parade, Ceremony and 30th Annual Ball

Armistice Day ……November 11, 1948
New Bedford Standard-Times, November 12, 1948 : - ……

Another Armistice Day has come and gone, and again, S. L. Nickerson Legion Post, which

sponsored the observance, can relax with a feeling its efforts were successful.

There was a bit more interest among entries than in years and there was a creditable showing.

This year for the first time there was a sizeable entry of National Guard vehicles and men.

There were 17 military vehicles in the parade, including staff cars, trucks, and half tracks.

Col. Richard H. Hopkins of Falmouth, commander of the 685th AAA AW Battalion, was in charge of

the outfit. The Middleboro Company was headed by Lt. Leo D. Curley, its commanding officer,

and Capt. Oscar Johnson, commander of Headquarters battalion in Bourne. They had the right of

line and made an imposing showing.

Police Chief Alden C. Sisson as usual headed the parade and the military vehicles came

right behind him. Then there was a car of Gold Star mothers, a car for VFW Auxiliary members

and the Middleboro Selectmen also riding.

Following this was a large detail of Middleboro Police, the High School band in charge of

Supervisor of Music Luther Churchill.

Next were members of John Glass Post, VFW headed by Commander William Heinz; the VFW

Auxiliary; S. L. Nickerson Legion Post, headed by Commander Vincent J. Robidoux, then the

Legion Auxiliary. Next came the Mitchell Club in uniform, practically 100 per cent veterans.

The Bates School band headed the next section with members of Nemasket Tribe IORM in full

regalia. Then Boy Scouts in higher grades through pack and dens; the Girl Scouts, and a car

entered by the Loyal Assawompsett Lodge, IOOF, MU.

Another unusual entry was the Capeway Rovers, a motorcycle club with a large number riding.

The commercial section followed.

Noticable concerning the parade was the large number of uniforms of the recent war worn by

entrants in almost every group which was in the parade.

After traveling the parade route from the area near Town Hall up South Main, Courtland and

Station streets to John Glass Square, then by Centre and South Main, they went to the Town

Hall plaza for formal exercises.

On return to Town Hall, exercises were held with Fletcher Clark, Jr., first commander,

presiding. The oration was given by Col. Richard E. Hopkins of Falmouth.

Awards were made for entries in the parade as follows: Floats, Assawompsett Council,

first; S.L. Nickerson Legion Auxiliary, second; Marching units, Girl Scouts, first; Mitchell

Club, second. Commercial section, Wiksten Bros. Most Unique, Hare and Rabbit Club. Honorable

mention went to the Eagles. Red Men and the VFW.

The judges were Lorenzo Wood, Mrs. Sylvia Metheson, Joseph F. Riley, Mrs. Reginald W. Drake

and Norman W. Lindsay.

The general committee in charge was Louis A. Cole, chairman, Fletcher Clark, Jr., Henry

Junior, Harold C. Tessier and Arthur E. Almquist.

The day’s program ended with the 30th annual Armistice Day Ball in Middleboro Town Hall

which was largely attended. Miss Theresa Sheehan was heard in solos during the concert period

which preceded the dancing. Johnny Dowd of Bridgewater provided the musical program.

The Committee in charge was Patrick J. McMahon, chairman, Clifton A. McCrillis, John D.

Rockwell. Jr., Wilmouth G. Waterman, Franklin G. Harlow and Arthur E. Almquist. The committee

had spent more than a month on plans for the dance.
................(Posted by Bob Lessard Historian 2014)