The Grand Army of the Republic, La Grande Station, 1930
Grand Army of the Republic band members begin their march trackside at the La Grande Station (back left) with the L.A. Gas Company gas-o-meters visible in the background. The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army who had served in the Civil War. In 1868, General Order #11 of the GAR called for May 30 to be designated as a memorial day for Union veterans; originally called "Decoration Day," this later became our Memorial Day holiday after WWI. Founded in 1866 by Benjamin F. Stephenson of Illinois, GAR was based partly on the traditions of Freemasonry, and partly on military tradition. Photo dated: June 5, 1930.
photo by Dick Whittington
Herald-Examiner Collection LAPL