Photograph: The decorated car of Mr and Mrs. E. M. Boagni received special mention for the 1918 Opelousas July 4th parade.
Carola Lillie Hartley
Publisher and Contributing Writer
The Fourth of July was a special day for the citizens of Opelousas in 1918. On that day an elaborate patriotic parade was held in the downtown headed by the local brass band and members of the American Red Cross. Most of the fraternal organizations in the city participated in the parade and celebration.
All the various organizations formed a parade lineup in front of city hall. They were followed by the Red Cross nurses, with both auto and horse trucks, the Elks followed with the Woodmen of the World, the Columbian Woodmen, the Knights of Columbus and the Italian societies following. The last in line were all the automobiles decorated in the red, white and blue.
As many as 5,000 people lined the streets of downtown Opelousas, cheering as the paraders passed through the principal portions of the city. The parade disbanded at the band stand on the St. Landry Parish courthouse square in the center of town.
Parade chairman E. M. Boagni opened the patriotic ceremony and celebration that followed with an address, pleasing the enthusiastic crowd. Rev Father Grace, John W. Lewis, Dudley J, Guilbeau, and Judge E. D, Estilette followed with their own words of celebration to the delight of all in attendance.
The beautifully decorated Red Cross Car, driven by Lieutenant A. J. Perrault of the Dental Corps Reserve, accompanied by Miss Aline, was awarded the prize for being the best decorated automobile in the parade. The car of Mr. Boagni was also beautifully decorated and received special mention.
Mr. Mamalikas, one of the patriotic Greek citizens of the city, created quite an excitement when his motorcycle appeared on the streets, decorated to represent a submarine chaser.
Although the US was involved in the great war (later called World War One) during that time, with many of the city’s young men away fighting that war, the town took time to celebrate the nation’s Independence Day in an appropriate way. It was a celebration those in attendance would long remember.
