"Less than 24-hours before sending the 'boys' of Richardson Light Guard Company A, 6th Regiment to fight in World War I, thousands of residents greeted the Company at the Center Station late in the afternoon on Saturday, August 25th when they arrived by train from Ayer via Boston. A reception was held late that evening in the armory, from 7:30 to 8:30, with dancing from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Crowds lined Main Street the following morning, August 26th 'well before 10 a.m.' to support the Company as they marched to the Upper Station from the armory. After a short parade down Main Street to the Common and up Chestnut Street, the company 'stood at ease in the drive in the rear of the Upper Station while wives, parents, sisters, brothers, sweethearts and friends bid tearful farewell to the boys in khaki who volunteered to go out and 'do their bit' for the cause of Democracy and to guard the safety and honor of their country. There were more wet eyes than dry eyes in the great crowd that pushed forward at the end of the march for the last leave-taking.' Family members and townspeople bought flags from local merchants which they waved as the train departed the Upper Station on North Avenue." Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 2015 Photo courtesy of JC Marketing Associates
