When the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, and joined World War I, many people across the country responded with an outpouring of patriotism and excitement. Wanting to show support for the war effort, people in Thurston County decided to celebrate “Dewey Day” on May 1, 1917, with a massive parade.
“Dewey Day” marks the 1898 victory of Admiral George Dewey’s forces against the Spanish at Manila during the Spanish-American War. This war had been a rallying point for Americans as the nation took a more international (and imperialistic) role. Olympians did not actually celebrate this “holiday” between 1898 and 1917, except for speeches at the Olympia Theater in 1899. In 1917, a date was picked for its convenience and the focus was placed on the war effort, rather than on the historical significance of the day.
On April 6, plans for a parade on Dewey Day were publically announced at a meeting of the Olympia Home Guard. Formed only a week earlier, the group’s self-declared goal was to be an internal defense militia group for the city. Their leader Captain W. B. Marsh announced that he had discussed ideas with a number of prominent citizens for what the Morning Olympian newspaper called a “large patriotic parade and demonstration.” The Guard appointed a committee to confer with the Olympia Chamber of Commerce, who took over planning the event.
A mass meeting was held at the Chamber of Commerce on April 9. Delegates from organizations across the city attended, as well as government officials. They appointed an executive committee with C. E. Beach (Superintendent of the Olympia School District), C. B. Owen and Frank M. Kenney (chair). Invitations were sent to other towns to participate. The day before the parade, merchants along the downtown Olympia route promised to leave store and window lights on. They also agreed to put up flags and bunting.
By the time Dewey Day rolled around, everything was ready for the evening event. Local newspapers later estimated that about 2,500 people participated in the parade and many more thronged the sidewalks along the route. The marchers made their way through downtown Olympia before gathering at Capitol Park (now Sylvester Park).
The Olympia Military Band began the march. Frank M. Kenney, a Spanish-American War veteran and organizer of the parade, carried his unit’s flag. Several members of the National Guard served as color guards. Next followed Civil War (G. A. R.) and Spanish-American War veterans, then the Woman’s Relief Corps and Milroy Circle Ladies of the G. A. R., female auxiliaries of these groups.
Then came the Olympia Volunteers, a drilling group for draft-eligible young men. Led by National Guard reservists, the Olympia Volunteers marched in two platoons, carrying wooden guns. The Sons of the American Revolution followed with the American flag. Members of the Red Cross first aid classes, all of them women in white dresses, marched next wearing armbands and white caps with red crosses. Next were the Home Guard, who had practiced especially for the event. The Tenino Rifle and Drum Corps, Tenino Gun Company and Tenino Boy Scouts joined in as well.
Clubs, fraternal societies and private schools formed the next segment of the parade. These included the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias, Tacoma’s Eagles Band, the Elks, St. Martin’s College students and band, students from the Catholic school Providence Academy, the Eagles, the Knights of Columbus and others.
School children formed one of the largest sections of the parade. Teachers marched with their classes and each student carried a small flag. Students carried attendance and athletic banners. Another group of children formed a “rake and hoe division” to promote war gardening.
Washington State Digital Archives, State Library Photograph Collection, 1851-1990
The industrial section had many local businesses and unions, including Buchanan Lumber Company, Northwest Fruit Products Company, Olympia Shipbuilding Company and Barbers Union. Closing the parade was an automobile division of 125 cars representing groups and private individuals.
The parade went without incident, except at one point where the marchers were forced onto the sidewalks by a streetcar. It took more than 40 minutes for the entire parade to take place, ending just before sunset.
Near the end of the parade, the Olympia Volunteers left the line to salute the flags and veterans. In Sylvester Park, after the band had finished a patriotic tune, Major C. O. Bates of Tacoma spoke to the cheering crowd about their duty to support the war.
Despite the parade’s success, there would be no Dewey Day celebration the next year in 1918. Other patriotic events would occur on other days. But the 1917 parade served as an opening explosion for homefront Thurston County when the war still seemed far away. Later patriotic celebrations during World War I would take a more somber note as the cost of the conflict became increasingly apparent.
