"Girls Kiss Greek Soldiers" article, New York Times, March 12, 1914


Published in The New York Times, March 12, 1914
GIRLS KISS GREEK SOLDIERS
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Veterans of Balkan War Leave for
The West Amid Cheers.
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Roses and kisses were the rewards bestowed yesterday morning in the concourse of the Pennsylvania Station upon some seventy-five Greek veterans of the Balkan wars.  They were some of the 842 Greek-American reservists, who arrived in New York on Tuesday from Patras on the Cunard liner Caronia, and were on their way to their homes in Chicago and other points in the Middle West.  They were accompanied to the Pennsylvania terminal by several hundred members of the Greek colony in this city.
Escorted by ten pretty Greek maidens, dressed in white, with sparkling black eyes, who scattered roses in their path, the returning soldiers filed through the Thirty-third Street entrance and into the concourse.  At their head marched two crippled patriots, one stumping bravely along on a wooden leg and the other with the left sleeve of his coat flapping empty against his side.  Directly behind them strode two of their comrades, one bearing the Stars and Stripes and the other the flag of Greece.
As the party reached the concourse the flower girls lined up in two rows with the color-bearers at either end, and as the veterans marched through each of the white-gowned maidens stepped forward and saluted each with a kiss.  Then the entire body of soldiers with uncovered heads filed by the colors of their native and adopted countries and kissed the flag of each nation, amid the huzzas of their assembled countrymen.
After this pretty ceremony was completed the veterans drew up in columns five abreast and, still with uncovered heads, gave three lusty cheers for King Constantine, followed by three equally enthusiastic hurrahs for President Wilson.  Then all joined in singing American and Greek national hymns, until it was time to board the 10:04 train for the West.
Several hundred passengers witnessed the demonstration and joined in the cheers for the home-bound soldiers as the train pulled out of the station.


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The New York Times - Archive 1851 - 1980




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