This week we’ll continue our look at the importance of parades in early days of the Willimantic area’s social life. Parades often bring to mind a military presence be it just a marching band or a company of soldiers. Willimantic took great pride in its Company “E” and Company “L” of the Connecticut National Guard. In 1898, Company E was called to serve in the Spanish-American War. Mayor Tanner issued a proclamation and most factories and schools closed early and the entire city was decorated with flags for the occasion. Almost every society, club and government body participated in a parade from the Valley Street Armory to Union Station. They returned to Willimantic in March, 1899. Of course they were met by no fewer than three bands, several community groups and scores of people who then paraded through several local streets and ended up at the new Town Hall for a special supper for the troops. In 1916, Company "L" of the Connecticut  Army National Guard was called to duty for the Mexican American Border War. On the morning of June 24th the Willimantic Fire Bell gave a "two hours 'til assembly" alert and people gathered at the Pleasant Street Armory. With all church bells ringing, government leaders, the police force and Wheeler's American Band escorted the troops to the train station (this week's photo). During WWI, several contingents of soldiers or draftees left Willimantic and almost every one was escorted in a parade from the Town Hall to the train station by at least one band and a platoon of police. Soldiers called to duty during WWI were formally honored in August, 1919.  The parade had begun on Main Street at Watson Street. The veterans reviewed the parade from the Town Hall and then took their place in the parade and were, “escorted by 2,500 marchers, a total of 11 divisions representing the leading fraternal and industrial organizations of the city” to Recreation Park. Parades were political too. From at least 1870 through 1920, Democrats and Republicans held parades not just in Willimantic but many surrounding towns to arouse interest in upcoming elections and especially to celebrate winning an election. Of course this was especially true in the years of presidential elections. A very refreshing aspect of these parades, and perhaps the politics of those years, is that at least locally, there was no bad blood. After the November, 1880 election in which the Republicans won the presidency as well as town and city offices, the Democrats still had a parade and one of the leading Democrats, Edwin A Buck, in spite of losing the Mayor’s race, “illuminated his residence” for the parade. “It was much commented upon and received the compliments of everybody. It surpassed anything in that line which has ever appeared in this town, and showed off as brilliantly as any that we have ever seen.” In 1884, Lebanon’s Democrats celebrated Grover Cleveland’s win. “There was a parade of horsemen, carriages and footmen marching to the music of the Lebanon Band.” The Lebanon Democrats, “gave expression to their joy in the illumination of their homes”. In South Windham, “The town painting process was in use here Wednesday evening, on the part of the democrats to an extent never before seen here. The demonstration surprised everyone. At 7PM, a procession headed by the band started to parade the streets, and enthusiasm was plenty. Nearly every democrat lighted his residence to a greater or less extent and colored fire, roman candles, crackers and rockets were used in abundance along the line.” In 1892, Willimantic Democrats celebrated their victory with “a parade with red fire, Roman candles, rockets, tin horns, torches, brass bands and transparancies”. The Republicans had their opportunity for celebration in 1900 with the election of Teddy Roosevelt. The huge post-election spectacle, complete with muskets, shotguns and a cannon on Hosmer Mountain, featured a parade of over 1,000 marchers and three bands  who made their way along 15 different streets, even going across the river at Bridge Street, down Pleasant Street and crossing again at Jillson Hill.It was said to have been one of the most enthusiastic affairs of the kind ever undertaken in the city. “Everyone was enthusiastic and even some of the local democrats seemed to partake in the general jubilant feeling”. Citizens of Willimantic and nearby towns loved their parades.