FROM THE LEWISTON TRIBUNE ARCHIVES: USS Idaho Flag Fete, Parade, Tops Program

Mon Oct 2nd, 2023

This story originally appeared in the Tribune on Aug. 20, 1946, advancing a parade in Lewiston. The USS Idaho battleship mentioned was put into service in 1919, went on to serve during World War II, and was present at Tokyo Bay when Japan formally surrendered Sept. 2, 1945. The next Navy ship to carry the name Idaho will be a submarine that is scheduled to be put into service in 2025. Navy sailors who are scheduled to serve on the submarine visited the area this past week.

A mammoth victory parade at 2 p.m. and presentation of the battle flag of the USS Idaho to Gov. Arnold Williams, legionnaire, by the U.S. Navy at 10 a.m. will highlight today's spectacular events on the program of the 28th annual Idaho American Legion convention.

Sharing the spotlight with the day's events will be National Legion Commander John H. Steele, former governor of Illinois, who arrived by plane late yesterday afternoon from Des Moines, Ia., General Convention Chairman Elbert S. Rawls announced.

Commander Stelle will speak at the 10 a.m. public meeting at the Liberty Theater following presentation of the USS Idaho flag, and also will deliver another address tonight at the convention banquet.

Admiral Present Flag

Rear Adm. George H. Fort, USN, commandant of the 13th naval district, will present the flag of the famed battleship Idaho to Governor Williams. The cherished trophy will be added to the state's historical museum at Boise.

The two-mile-long parade at 2 p.m. will contain all the eye-catching ingredients which combine to make a parade successful, Chairman Ted Dufour said late yesterday.

Aerial Escort

The army air forces will provide an aerial escort, with several B-29 Superforts and P-51 Mustangs to fly overhead. The crack sixth army band which paraded yesterday will also be an important part in the procession.

More than a dozen gaily-decorated floats likewise will be one of the main eye-catchers. The champion Sandpoint junior drum and bugle corps, the Lewiston drum and bugle corps, and the internationally famous Trail, B.C., Scottish band will offer a variety of music from state to finish.

Parade Order Announced

Dufour announced that 35 units will be included in the gigantic parade. Participating units were asked to be at the assigned stations promptly at 1 p.m. The parade will begin at 18th street and proceed down Main street to the Lewis-Clark hotel and return to Main street via D street with the reviewing stand set up at 3rd street.

Units and their positions in the parade were announced by the chairman: motorcycle escort, color guard from Lewiston, dignitaries, army band, army foot troops, key float, Sandpoint drum and bugle corps, mass colors, 40 and 8 engine from Lewiston, Potlatch Forests float, Geiger field band, iron lung, Red cross float, clown band, mechanized troops, McMonigle Chevrolet float, 40 and 8 engine from Boise, Lewiston drum and bugle crops, 4-H float, Lewiston Grain Growers float; Trail, B.C., bagpipe band, Huggins Dairy float, Snake Rive Wranglers, C.C. Anderson float, Erb Hardware float, Nez Perce Tractor float, Lewiston roundup, Junior Chamber of Commerce float, American Legion members on float, army float and the calliope.

The Clearwater unit of Potlatch Forests, Inc., will be closed beginning with the day-shift today in order that employees may see and participate in the gigantic parade.

A featured attraction of the parade and sessions of the convention will be the appearance of the Nez Perce Tractor band, Dufour said.