World War I 100 Years Ago: June 23 and 30

From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, June 29: Mothers, fathers, wives, sweethearts, sisters and brothers, each carrying a large bunch of flowers, bid farewell to 150 Serbians who left yesterday to fight for the liberty of their people against the Teuton and Bulgar. After a service at the Romanian Orthodox Church, Market and Blackford Streets, the men were massed at the south side of Monument Circle where speeches were made by Mayor Bell and others. Lieut. Peter Perunovich, who organized the company, pledged the allegiance of American Serbians to the common cause. The men then marched, with flags of the United States, Serbia, and the Red Cross at the head of the column, from the Circle to Union Station and the train to carry them to Canada where they will embark for the war zone. Rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm.

From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, July 4: Anxious to perform some patriotic service to their country, 127 girls who are telephone operators and students at two business colleges donated their time and energy yesterday afternoon and evening folding, sealing, addressing, and placing stamps on 20,000 letters containing an appeal to Indianapolis young men of conscription age that they should enlist at once in the Indiana National Guard which is soon to be called into Federal service. Each letter addressed in a feminine hand calls attention to the ten patriotic meetings being held in different parts of Indianapolis tomorrow night in the interest of the National Guard. Young men may enlist now in any National Guard organization they choose and stay together with home town pals. If they wait until the draft, they must go wherever they happen to be sent.