100 Years Ago: May 28-June 3

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, May 30, 1921: Indianapolis paid tribute to the dead of all American wars today. Commemorative services and programs began at 9 a.m. on the Circle with exercises at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, and continued in parts of the city nearly every hour thereafter until the principal ceremonies were held at Crown Hill Cemetery in the afternoon. Speakers at the two principal services, while eulogizing the veterans, condemned the practice of holding the annual Speedway race on Memorial Day and deplored the commercialization marking the day in the Hoosier Capital. Prior to the Crown Hill rituals, several hundred veterans of the Civil War were in the line of march of the annual parade through the downtown streets. Some memorial programs were held in cemeteries Sunday afternoon with the decoration of graves with flowers and flags.