100 years ago in Spokane: Young men given somber farewell before heading to World War I

A “serious, silent crowd” bade a somber farewell to two Spokane army units, headed off to Europe.

“Wives with babes in their arms, gray-haired mothers, tearful sisters and sweethearts trying hard to be brave were there, and occasionally a father so see his boy off,” said The Spokesman-Review. “There was little weeping at the armory, but many faces showed subdued emotion.”

The paper said the units included many “sons of Spokane families prominent in social circles.”

“Millionaires’s sons packed their rifles and kits with a smile along the street, marching side by side with the sons of working men.”

The mayor made a brief speech and a lieutenant read out the roll call. Then the men marched from the armory to the depot.

“There was no street parade, and the men entered the waiting train through the yards,” said the paper. “The departure was kept as much a secret as such an event could be. The relatives hurried over to the station, and had barely time for a last goodbye when the whistle blew and the boys were off.”