Glens Falls in 1919 — Thanksgiving
Going a year without global conflict brought increased significance to the traditional Thanksgiving holiday in Glens Falls a century ago.
“If there were no Thanksgiving Day on the calendar of custom, the revelation of this year should place it there,” The Post-Star editorialized on Nov. 26, 1919. “The peace of the world is no inalienable inheritance.”
Europe had been at war from July 28, 1914 to Nov. 18, 1918. The United States entered the war in 1917.
“War came and all at once we loved peace. We knew that the war must be bravely fought, but we also knew that peace was a blessing, a Divine grace, a benediction, a glow from heaven adding to the sunshine.”
Forty-nine men from Warren County, 65 from Washington County and 70 from Saratoga County died during military service in the war, according to the World War I Roll of Honor published by New Horizons Genealogy.
Many more were wounded or gassed.
Sgt. Harry M. Rowland was the first casualty from Glens Falls, dying from pneumonia resulting from Spanish influenza.
About half of U.S. casualties during World War I were from Spanish influenza, not combat.
On the home front, Glens Falls residents observed Meatless Mondays and Wheatless Wednesdays, and stayed optimistic when factory hours were cut to conserve fuel for the war effort.
Business leaders and clergy gave four-minute speeches at local theaters to urge the purchase of war bonds.
“While we buckled our belts, or tied our Red Cross aprons, or tremblingly took the telegram from the capital, or pleaded with crowds for subscriptions to war loans — we took peace as a gift, and not as a common, inevitable fact.”
Eventually the Armistice was signed on Nov. 11, 1918.
Word reached Glens Falls just after 3 a.m., setting in motion 20 hours of celebration in the streets.
Just over a year later, it was paramount that peace never be taken for granted again.
“Let us remain appreciative, let us never again think that peace is a common and ordinary thing, of we may once again realize its precious beauty, looking again through smoke and tears.”
