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Memorial Day The first Memorial Day services in O’Fallon under the auspices of the American Legion were held Monday May 31, 1920. Previously they had been arranged by the Civil War veterans of Col. Raith Post No. 587, G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic). Mayor John Seddon had issued a proclamation requesting that all business be suspended so that merchants and employees could properly observe the day. Activities began with Legion and G.A.R. members and citizens assembling in Shiloh at 8:30 a.m. for a program highlighted by an address by Superintendent of Collinsville Public Schools, Prof. Charles H. Dorris. He paid “glowing tribute to the Civil War veterans and soldiers of the late war" (W.W. I). Observances resumed in O’Fallon at 2 p.m. with a parade headed by the O’Fallon Band. Included in the procession were W.W. I and Civil War veterans, members of the fire department and fraternal organizations, school children, and citizens. After a short march, the parade headed for the City Park next to City Hall where an extensive program was presented. Featured was music by the O’Fallon Band, a prayer, songs by both the Baptist church choir and the O’Fallon Public Schools, and a recitation of the Gettysburg Address by Miss Inez Distler. The speaker was W.W. I veteran Dr. S. Beedle of St. Louis. His talk was unfortunately interrupted frequently by rain showers which distracted the attention of the large crowd. His address was reprinted in its entirety by The Progress the following Thursday and took up nearly three full columns.
After the program, the day concluded with the ceremony of decorating the graves of veterans at the Tiedemann Cemetery at the end of north Oak St.
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